With a crown on her head and a sash across her dress, Okotoks teenager Arianna Ramsay saw her life change in a split second.
The Holy Trinity Academy graduate was crowned Miss Teenage Canada at the annual pageant held last weekend in Toronto.
Ramsay was announced as the winner with Kaixin Zheng of B.C. as the first runner-up, Reyna Bao of B.C. as the second runner-up, and Reece Dunn, Miss Teenage Southern Ontario as the third runner-up.
“Everything happens for a reason, and I have cherished every moment of this journey,” Ramsay said before the pageant. “Thank you to the Miss Teenage Canada Organization for giving me the opportunity to once again showcase my passion for my advocacy and pageantry.”
As part of her advocacy work following the crowning, Ramsay will work with her online platform, H.E.R.O. Canada, which stands for Help, Empathize, Responsibility, and Open Communication. The platform is an initiative to address bullying, especially among Canadian youth.
“Being biracial, I often saw myself as different and inferior,” she said. “I never felt like I fit in, I felt targeted and afraid to ask for help. However, with the love and support of my family, I was able to overcome this adversity and found the strength to create HERO. Instead of trying to change who I am, I now take pride in overcoming any challenges that come my way. I will continue to fight for my advocacy so others can overcome their adversities just as I have.”
Ramsay hopes to pursue studies in Business Administration and Sonography, to pursue a healthcare career.