Riddell, 20, was recently crowned Miss Petite Mississauga, beating out 72 contestants to represent the city at the Miss Canada Petite Pageant on Aug. 24.
At 5-foot-4, Riddell will compete against 40 other women from across Canada, all standing under 5-foot-7. The pageant will be televised on CTV. Rehearsals for the pageant are held every Sunday in Toronto, where the Ontario finalists are learning how to properly model various attire, including swimsuits and evening gowns, in four-inch stilettos, and do make-up and hair.
A lifetime pageant fan, Riddell said the opportunity is a dream come true.
"I always wanted to be that girl (Miss Canada)," said the third-year business management student at Ryerson University. "Growing up, I never missed watching the pageants on television."
As a child, Riddell did some modelling and was enrolled at Erinvale School of Dance. She'll be dancing for the talent portion of the pageant. And her five-minute platform speech will be about her commitment to her personal cause, breast cancer.
"I have had a lot of friends and family affected by breast cancer, and I have made it my charity of choice," she said.
Although she isn't nervous yet, Riddell said she's brushing up on current events so she's prepared for the question-and-answer portion of the pageant. Working part-time as a bartender, Riddell believes her ability to interact with people will be helpful, too.
Since being crowned Miss Petite Mississauga, Riddell has spent much of her spare time at various events and festivals, displaying her winner's sash and volunteering. This past Saturday she participated in Clarkson's 200th anniversary celebrations.
She also has a lot of fundraising to do to help cover pageant costs. Each entrant must pay $2,500 and supply her own dresses, swimsuits and cover hotel and meal expenses during the week-long competition, which takes place at Toronto's Leah Posluns Theatre.
The three finalists at the Miss Canada Petite Pageant move on to the Miss Petite International competition later this year.
jslack@mississauga.net
