Miss Teen Okotoks is going to be competing in the Miss Teenage Canada pageant in July.
Last February, Maya McIntyre competed in Miss Teen Calgary, where she won first runner-up.
"The runners-up get to go to Nationals, so Miss Teenage Canada is next month," McIntyre explains. "And in order for me to solidify a place at Nationals, I needed to receive a title, and I received the title as Miss Teen Okotoks."
McIntyre says she has a passion for public speaking, which there is a lot of in pageants.
"You're spotlighting yourself on stage in front of the community, in front of judges, it's a huge growing opportunity, and it kind of amplifies those qualities that you possess and that kind of passion to make impact in your collectives that surround you. And additionally, which I find is most important, and kind of strengthening that confidence in the friendships you make, the sisterhood, which is crucial in pageants. That unifies you together and makes you stronger."
McIntyre adds that they are all supporting each other's success while they share the stage and through every opportunity each contestant is provided.
The Miss Teenage Canada pageant will happen from July 9 to 13 in Toronto.
While it's not required as part of the pageant, McIntyre has a platform.
"Usually, every girl does create a platform surrounding some sort of issue or cause that they hold personally to themselves, whether it's an incentive to just make a change or it's from personal experience. My platform, Neurodivergent and Thriving, is a platform dedicated to promoting the newer and broader term neurodiversity."
The term was coined in the 1990's by an Australian sociologist who wanted to fight the stigma being aimed at those with dyslexia, autism, and ADHD.
"The term broadened to other learning challenges. So, me as a neurodivergent individual, I have a nonverbal learning difference."
McIntyre says she wanting to change that narrative to promote these learning challenges as a way for it to be utilized as a weapon rather than an obstacle.
She also wants to address the other personal, professional, and social implications that having a learning challenge may have.
"There are so many tasks and facets of discipline that neurodivergent people face that are perceived as rather difficult relative to a person who may find them easy and is neurotypical."
She adds that people who are neurodivergent are simply trying to navigate a neurotypical world, causing neurodivergent individuals to create relationships with their learning and emotional capacities in order to thrive.
That comes with accommodations, with facilitations, and with an educational system that needs to be implemented in order for neurodivergent individuals to thrive.
"I want to address those challenges, address those accommodations that alleviate these struggles, but also make sure neurodiversity comes to prominence, because it is a fairly newer term, and not everyone has it in their conscience that this is a real issue."
As part of the Miss Teenage Canada Pageant, McIntyre set up a GoFundMe page.
Part of the funds raised will help her compete at the Pageant, covering costs such as flights, gowns, shows, while another part of the funds will go towards the CanLearn Society.
"It's an organization that helps kids with learning differences receive tutoring in reading, writing, math, and other forms of literacy as part of my platform piece."
To donate to McIntyre's GoFundMe, click here.