Miss Nunavut hopes to steal beauty title with something borrowed

JACKIE WALLACE

Sandi Faye Vincent will be wearing a sealskin wedding gown when she marches down the runway next month at the Miss World Canada competition in Toronto.

Vincent, 19, of Iqaluit was chosen at Miss Nunavut 2006 three weeks ago when she received a phone call from Ashley Dean, former Miss Nunavut and current regional director of the competition.

Vincent was convinced to enter the competition by friends and family. At first she was disappointed to learn that the competition was full, but after other competitors dropped out Vincent found herself in the running.

After a phone interview with Dean, Vincent, an Inuksuk High School graduate, was chosen from several applicants from across the territory. Since there are no competitors from the Yukon or the Northwest Territories entered in the national competition, Vincent will be the only contestant in Toronto from north of 60.

The national competition will include a preliminary round of interviews, a swimsuit competition and an evening gown competition between 38 competitors. Vincent is hoping that her time spent coaching basketball at Nakasuk School, doing laps in the pool and her usual workout routine will help get her into the finals.

She’s also hoping that the sealskin wedding dress that she has received permission to borrow from the Nunavut Department of the Environment will grab the judges’ attention. “It fits me well because I have worn it before in fashion shows,” says Vincent.

The motto of Miss World Canada is “beauty with purpose,” and the competition aims to focus not only on physical beauty, but also community-mindedness. “It’s pretty much just a beauty pageant, but they are trying to make it more,” says Vincent. “I think you have to focus on what can come out of it.”

In the lead-up to the competition, all contestants are required to raise funds for a charity picked by the competition’s organizers. This year’s charity of choice is the Rock Solid Foundation, which seeks to reduce violence and crime among youth.

“Miss World Canada has raised US $400 million for children’s charities over the years,” says Vincent. “Personally, I want to raise at least $5,000.”

Her fundraising activities include a raffle and a car wash on Sunday, July 2 at 11 a.m. at the fire hall.

“I have lots of sponsors,” says Vincent. “Everyone has been really supportive.”