Celebration held for Waterville teen heading
Next step: 2018 Miss Teen Maritime International competition
For a 14-year-old girl from Waterville, taking part in the Miss Teen Maritime International competition is all about proving she can do it.
Family and friends of Miss Teen Waterville International Tamara Pinch held a celebration in her honour at the Coldbrook Community Heritage Hall on Feb. 4. Pinch, a Grade 8 student at Central Kings, is one of several girls and young women from the Valley region taking part in the Miss Teen International, Miss International and Ms. International competitions in Moncton and Dieppe, New Brunswick, this May. She’ll be representing Waterville at the provincial level and vying for the title of Miss Teen Maritime International (MTMI) 2018.
The Ms., Miss and Miss Teen Maritime event is a scholarship achievement program, not a beauty pageant or model search. Delegates are judged on personality, intellect, communications skills, public speaking, charity platform and overall desire and passion to help people and make a positive difference.
Pinch said she’ll be going from May 16 to 20 and is looking forward to the experience. Part of the reason why she wants to take part in the MTMI event is that her mom was Princess Waterville in the Berwick Gala Days competition in 2001. Pinch said she wants to follow in those footsteps.
Like all delegates, she must have a charity platform. Pinch has chosen one near and dear to her and her family, the IWK Children’s Hospital.
“I chose the charity IWK because since I have ear problems, I go there,” Pinch said, pointing out the hospital has also helped her sister, Courtney.
Pinch plans to visit there as a MTMI ambassador, wearing her Miss Teen Waterville International sash and tiara and hopefully put smiles on the children’s faces. She’ll also be raising funds for the hospital through a ticket auction and bake sale.
Pinch wants to thank her family members and sponsors for their support. She is actively looking for sponsors to help with travel costs and other expenses associated with the event, such as shoes, dresses, meals and accommodations. She’ll also be fundraising on her own behalf.
While in New Brunswick, Pinch will be part of a delegation to the WE BELIEVE event in Saint John on May 17, part of the WE movement. They’ll be presenting a charitable cheque on behalf of the MTMI organization.
Pinch said she’s looking forward to meeting the other girls in her division and making new friendships. There is a “Miss Friendship” title up for grabs that the delegates get to vote on to determine the winner.
As part of the MTMI event, Pinch will attend a gala and participate in a fashion competition and evening wear competition. She’ll also be participating in a talent competition. Pinch will be performing a contemporary dance to The Climb by Miley Cyrus. She recalls that they played this song at her daycare graduation in Berwick when she was a little girl. Pinch said she’s always appreciated the positive message of the song – “to not give up on what you want.”
“In my opinion, I dance better to a song when I have a connection to it than when I don’t,” Pinch said. “I just want to be able to show people that you can do things if you try.”
There are several other titles up for grabs. For example, each of the delegates has a Facebook page and there’s a social media title that goes to the delegate who does the most promotion in advance of the event.
Tamara’s mom, Linda Pinch, said it’s an honour to have her daughter involved in the MTMI competition. A victim of bullying, it’s a way for Tamara to build confidence and self-esteem.
“I just want to be able to show people that you can do things if you try.”
- Tamara Pinch