Beauty pagents have changed. Yes, really. When I came to North America, I was honoured to participate in the Mrs. International pageant as the Canadian representative. Now, let’s not confuse a Miss and a Mrs. pageant. The Mrs. International pageant is only open to MARRIED WOMEN between the ages of 21 and 56. It was an unforgettable experience to meet and connect with other like-minded women. I hadn’t entered a pageant before, but, I’d seen so many pageants in the movies, that I thought, ‘Why not?’ Let’s get into this vibe (thoughts of Miss Congeniality come to mind… seriously… even as someone who has dressed up on stage for my shows all the time!).

While there are still some traditional elements to the Mrs. International pageant, the show chooses to champion the achievements of the remarkable contestants and their unwavering commitment to family and marriage and their chosen causes. The other element about this competition that spoke to me was their strong promotion for charity: each contestant chooses a charity to highlight and continue to endorse during her reign. This was my chance to bring light to a charity and cause that’s very dear to my heart – ovarian cancer. Outside of Mrs International, I am an ambassador for Ovarian Cancer Canada and I don’t take that title lightly. Check out my PSA – it may help you and or someone you know. A dear friend passed away from this disease, which affects far too many women. The Mrs. International pageant provided a platform for me to speak about ovarian cancer and to raise awareness about the lack of adequate testing for this disease. And, let’s face it, I was in the right company to promote this cause.

The Mrs. International pageant was in Chicago, so of course I had to check out the Sears Tower, Navy Pier, ride a Ferris Wheel, and eat deep dish pizza. Chicago is a very friendly city and ALWAYS busy – it reminds me of my hometown, Sydney. The Mrs. International mission is “To Make a Difference” – and in spreading the word about Ovarian Cancer, I hope that is what I have done.

Sophie xo