Sherin Lalani of Olds recently came back from Toronto, where she competed in Miss Canada Globe Productions' national pageant. She was awarded the Canadian Scholarship Ambassador position for a one-year term.
Her duties involve attending various functions, being a role model and pushing young people to attain higher education levels. After a year, Lalani, 23,will get to compete in an all-expenses-paid, international pageant – location yet to be determined – and receive a scholarship.
Currently attending Norquest College, Lalani graduates this year from the licensed practical nurse program. Afterward, she wants to work toward becoming a registered nurse.
She already holds a regional title as Miss Petite Southern Alberta, which is awarded to women who stand 5-4 and under. The accolades have come as a surprise to her.
"I never thought anything like that would happen to me. I'm just a regular girl that decided to do this. It was supposed to be a bucket list opportunity because I've always wanted to do something like this," she says.
It was a friend of Lalani's who suggested she participate in the pageants. That friend had done so as well. The opportunity to earn scholarship money made the idea all the more attractive.
Miss Canada Globe has three categories for contestants: Miss Canada for women 5-7 or taller, Miss Petite and the teen class.
"What I love about this pageant is they're very accepting of all ages, all races, all body types; because we did have some plus girls there also taking some national titles, which was awesome," she says.
Evaluations were based on a number of different criteria: conduct, stage presence, hair and makeup, an evening wear and swimsuit competition, an interview, public speaking and a social platform.
That platform of hers focuses on poverty among Canada's senior population, with many getting by on pensions that do not cover the costs of supportive equipment or health-care costs.
Lalani plans to fundraise and become a sponsor through an organization called Seniors In Need, which connects candidates who need financial support with donors.
The experience was at times nerve-racking, she says, but overall, positive, empowering.
"I feel way more confident as a person, definitely. I feel like I can go up on a stage and speak my mind from the heart and have no fear anybody is judging me, I'm doing it for myself. And I just feel stronger as a person and open to anything."
"I never thought anything like that would happen to me. I'm just a regular girl that decided to do this."SHERIN LALANI
