| Subject: Local off to Toronto in bid for Universe title |
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 Tommy
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Date Posted: 20:33:15 01/27/11 Thu
Local off to Toronto in bid for Universe title
http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/cowichannewsleader/news/114239224.html
http://www.bclocalnews.com/lifestyles/112919554.html
Mariah Dixon will be competing in the Miss Canada Universe pageant in Toronto in June.
Published: January 23, 2011 6:00 AM
She’s never been a model or participated in a pageant.
But that hasn’t stopped Mariah Dixon has been named a finalist in the Miss Universe Canada competition.
Dixon, 18, says she applied on little more than a whim after coming across the contest on the Internet.
“I told my mom about it, and she got all excited. She said ‘Mariah, you have to do this!’”
Dixon attended a day-long interview and training process last month in Vancouver with a roomful of women ages 18 to 27. They were given pointers on graceful walking and public speaking, and quizzed on current events.
For nearly all the others, it wasn’t a new experience.
“They had already been training for months,” she says. “I was the youngest there. Most were 21 and older. One girl already has her doctorate, while others have their own companies.”
Most were friendly, although some were “pretty competitive,” she says.
“They gave me tips and encouraged me, telling me ‘You kind of messed up on this, but don’t worry, you’ll get better.’”
Although she didn’t feel nervous going in, “I was nervous after I left. I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it, but everyone reassured me I would.”
The call soon came that she had.
“I started jumping up and down. I called my mom right away, and we were both jumping up and down on either side of the phone.”
Dixon, who graduated from high school in Nelson B.C. last year and has since been working in Duncan, where her grandparents live, says there’s a lot to do to prepare for the pageant in Toronto in June.
She’ll be hiring a personal trainer and seeking sponsorships to cover her expenses, including twice monthly visits to Vancouver.
“It will be lots of fun,” she says. “I’m going to work hard at it, but it’s just an experience.”
Mariah’s mother, Jen Bredl, says she’s thrilled for her daughter.
“My feminist side thinks hmmm, pageants. But when I read their platform, I don’t feel it’s objectifying girls. They’re just trying to show healthy, strong bodies.”
Physical appearance is not the only factor, she adds. She thinks participating in the pageant will be worthwhile no matter what the outcome.
“If Mariah were to come in even in the top 20, there could be all sorts of opportunities for her. You never know what this could lead to.”
Dixon has five brothers, who she says are happy for her, but have also been ribbing her. Friends were amazed to hear about it.
“They were like ‘Why didn’t you tell us about this? How come we didn’t know?’ Everyone from Nelson’s phoning up wanting the details.”
The winner of Miss Canada Universe goes on to compete for the Miss Universe title in Sao Paulo, Brazil next September.
Dixon is looking for sponsors, both major and minor. She can be reached at mariah-dixon@hotmail.ca.
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