When Emily Burgess and Rachel Smyth entered the Ontario Miss Mid-West competition both hoped to win.
Now, with Burgess crowned Ontario Miss Mid-West and Smyth Miss Mid-West Princess at the July 16 contest in Walkerton, both are looking forward to representing the pageant at events throughout the next year.
“It was awesome,” Burgess of Harriston said of the win.
It’s a feeling shared by Smyth, 12, of Kenilworth.
The pair, according to Burgess, will be attending some 40 different events, such as fall fairs and homecomings, on behalf of the pageant.
Burgess is no stranger to such competitions. She was named Harriston-Minto Ambassador of the Fair in July, 2009. She went on to be named first runner-up at the Canadian National Exhibition in August 2010 and later was crowned Miss Ontario Firefighter, which sponsored her at the Miss Mid-West pageant.
But July’s competition wasn’t the first time she’s run in the competition, having placed third last year when she was sponsored by the Harriston-Minto Agricultural Society.
As she travels to events, Burgess is also hoping to raise awareness of her favorite charity: Free the Children, a non-profit organization with the goal of making young people free to achieve their fullest potential in life.
It’s a charity she has supported for several years and hopes, one day, to work for.
A first step to reaching that goal will be when Burgess begins studies at the University of Waterloo for an Arts and Business degree with a double major in speech, peace and conflict.
“I’m hoping to be a public speaker for Free the Children,” she said in a recent interview at the home she shares with parents Cathy and Gary. She also has a brother, Justin.
Burgess is athletic, having played broomball on the Palmerston Terminators team that won bronze at the nationals last year and silver this year.
For Smyth, the Miss Mid-West contest is the first she has ever competed in and she was overjoyed to capture the Princess title.
Smyth is a recent Grade 6 graduate from Kenilworth Public School. At graduation she was named valedictorian and top all-round student.
She lives on a small hobby farm with her parents Victoria and Christopher, sisters Remy and Emma, and brothers Noah and Greyson.
The family shares the farm, according to Smyth, with four dogs, two cats, snakes, a miniature horse, chickens, fish and many birds, her favorite animal. She has a cockatiel and two budgies.
“I love birds,” she said. “I find they are very interesting and fun to learn about and watch.”
She also enjoys playing piano, making jewelry, yoga, crafts, oil and pastel painting art and reading.
Burgess keeps in touch with Smyth as each event they will be attending comes up.
Of her pageant win, Smyth says, “I was very lucky to have Emily Nielson Design sponsor me.”
