A Cranbrook youth recently returned from the Miss Teenage British Columbia pageant with a prestigious title.
Kyrie Jackson will now be heading to the national Miss Teenage Canada pageant in July as Miss Teenage Kootenays and she will represent the region.
The Miss Teenage B.C. pageant was held in Vancouver on March 1 and 2.
Kyrie said the experience was something to remember.
"It was amazing," she said. "I got to meet a lot of really nice and cool people."
She said it was so much more than she even imagined it would be. The girls were given lessons in everything from interview skills to how to properly walk for the pageant.
"It gave me a huge experience, because now for nationals there are talent scouts and people who discover people there," she said. "Canada's modelling agencies are there."
She said at the B.C. pageant there were some things to get used to.
"We walked around in heels for 12 hours a day, and were taught how to dance in them," she said. "It was painful."
She was awarded the title of Miss Teen Kootenays 2014, so she will be representing the Kootenays in Toronto at the nationals.
"I was the highest fundraiser for the Cardiac for Kids in all of B.C. and so far second or third in Canada, with $1,100," she said, adding that there are still a couple provinces that haven't completed their Miss Teen Canada portion.
She raised the money by selling theatrical movie posters and selling tickets for prize draws. Kyrie was in the mall every weekend through February. She raised the funds in only three weeks.
She said a lot of local businesses donated prizes for the event and the support from everyone was fantastic.
Now Kyrie is working towards the national Miss Teen Canada competition, and raising funds for a new charity, Free the Children.
"It's quite an amazing story," her mom, Judy, said. "Basically this 12-year-old boy started this organization. He saw an article in a Toronto paper (about) this young boy standing up for his rights in education and he ended up getting shot, just to get a basic education and get out of slavery."
Kyrie explained that the contestant who raises the most in Canada or who wins Miss Teenage Canada can go on one of the charity's volunteer excursions.
Kyrie will have six weeks to raise funds for the charity once she starts her campaign.
She has a couple events coming up as part of raising funds for the charity as well.
The United Church is helping to sponsor her by hosting a garage sale on April 26, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On April 27, the Ladies Fraternal Order of Eagles 3032 will be hosting a pancake breakfast for Kyrie's charity from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Eagles Hall in Cranbrook.
You can follow Kyrie's adventure on her Facebook page: Kyrie J-Miss Teenage Kootenays 2014.
You can also check out her blog at www.missteenkootenays.com or Twitter @TeenKootenays14.