| Subject: Grimsby beauty headed to finals |
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 Tommy ()
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Date Posted: 11:36:40 02/25/08 Mon
Posted By Karena Walter, kwalter@stcatharinesstandard.ca
Former tomboy Nicole Hemmer was more interested in running down a basketball court than strutting on a catwalk.
Now, she's trading in her high-tops for high heels.
The 18-year-old McMaster University student from Grimsby will be competing in her first beauty pageant in two weeks as a national finalist in Miss World Canada.
If the idea of the bathing suit competition makes her nervous, she doesn't show it.
"I feel comfortable. A little stress and nervousness, I always use it to propel forward and do the best I can," she said, adding the contest is an excellent opportunity.
"When you believe in yourself and the beauty of your dreams, you can accomplish anything in life. There’s no limit."
Hemmer seems determined to take home the Miss World Canada title, while juggling first-year courses in kinesiology at McMaster, working on campus as a key clerk and volunteering.
That drive is seen in a long list of achievements in sports and academics, including graduating from Blessed Trinity High School on the honour roll and being nominated for Grimsby Youth Citizen of the Year in 2007.
So what does she think of joining a pageant and facing widely held stereotypes about beauty queens?
Hemmer said if beauty can capture attention, why not use it?
"It gives you a larger voice to be heard, like a microphone in society," she said. "I know I can make a difference.... I'm an excellent role model for young women in Canada."
Her first inkling that modelling might be part of her future came when she was 13 and an aunt living in New York City gave her a professional photo shoot as a birthday gift.
She discovered she was comfortable in front of the camera and, as a self-admitted tomboy, was surprised to see herself in a dress.
"I didn't even recognize myself and I didn’t know I could look like that," she said.
Still, Hemmer continued her devotion to sports, playing soccer for 10 years and basketball for eight with the Grimsby Grizzlies Travel Basketball Team.
She modelled on the side, making appearances as a hair model for the local Hernder Picasso's Foundation and in a Good Charlotte music video. Last February, she modelled for five designers during New York City's fashion week.
A month later, she became the still-reigning Miss Club Heidelberg — an ambassador for the German club during the Niagara Folk Arts Festival and for events through the year.
To enter the Miss World Canada pageant, Hemmer applied online last month and did a two-hour interview by phone. She was one of 40 women selected from across Canada for the pageant, March 11 to 15, in Toronto.
She hopes Niagara residents will support her by voting for the People's Choice Award on the Miss World Canada website. The winner is guaranteed a spot in the Top 15.
She is also seeking donations for help with transportation, hotel, and wardrobe, and entrance costs. Donors will get their names on the pageant website under Hemmer’s biography.
Hemmer said her family is supportive of her dream. She lives with her parents Liz and John and brother Brandon, 16, on weekends, staying on campus during the week.
If Hemmer does win the title, she'll be touring Canada promoting an anti-bullying platform and touting the importance of self-esteem, something she clearly doesn't lack.
"Having self-esteem is how you excel in school," she said, explaining it keeps students away from the pitfalls of drugs and other problems.
"It's only when you have low self-esteem that you succumb to peer pressure."
Source: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=915482&auth=Karena+Walter
More articles about Miss World Canada:
Georgian College student in Miss World competition
Quartet readies for pageant; Local women try to land spot at Miss World event
Brains, beauty and brawn earn shot at Miss World Canada title 
Uppekha seeks Miss World glory 
Northern Ontario girls to take on the world at Miss World Canada
Last edited by author: Thu February 28, 2008 13:19:25
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23-year-old chooses Miss Universe over the law
(NT)
It's not often you can find a site that shows pictures of the whole pageant but the link Lisa provided does that. I was a bit bored so I thought I'd play second guess the judges. 1st category(runway or business-casual?) girls 051,020,005 and 017. Swimsuit picks - 180,130 and 160. Evening gown - 273,239,323 and 301.If anyone else would like to play the site is listed on the topic for Miss Calgary results. Ps. there are some adorable photos from the little kid pageant.
