Being chosen to represent Canada at the Mrs. International pageant was such an honour! This was a first for me- I never thought I would ever take part in a pageant, however, this was different.

Let’s clear up one thing first: a Miss pageant and a Mrs. pageant are not the same. Mrs. International is open only to married women between the ages of 21 and 56, and it celebrates something different — not just poise on a stage, but a woman’s commitment to her marriage, her family, and her community. That’s what drew me to it. I’d never entered a pageant before, but when the opportunity came up, I knew it was a chance to represent something I believed in.

The experience itself was unforgettable. I met so many remarkable women, each with her own story of resilience, partnership, and purpose. What struck me most was how the competition made space for the causes we cared about. Every contestant chooses a charity to champion during her reign, and for me, that was an easy choice: ovarian cancer.

Outside of Mrs. International, I’m proud to serve as an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Canada. A dear friend of mine passed away from this disease, which affects far too many women and is too often caught late due to a lack of reliable early testing. Mrs. International gave me a platform to speak about this cause to a wider audience, and I was grateful for the chance to raise awareness in front of a room full of women who understood exactly why it mattered. If you’d like to watch the PSA I recorded, you can find it here — it might help you or someone you love.

The pageant was held in Chicago, and I made the most of it: the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, a ride on the Ferris wheel, and, of course, deep dish pizza. Chicago’s energy reminded me a lot of my hometown of Sydney — busy, warm, and full of life.

Mrs. International’s mission is “To Make a Difference.” Between representing Canada, connecting with an incredible group of women, and raising awareness for Ovarian Cancer Canada and other causes close to my Calgary community, I hope that’s exactly what I was able to do.

Sophie xo