Whitehorse’s Jennifer Perrin is one busy person.
Perrin, who also bares the title of Miss Yukon, is studying nursing at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ont., volunteers a few nights a week at a hospital and does public appearances as well.
As if all that wasn’t enough, she will soon compete at her second international pageant early next month.
The 25-year-old has been invited to represent Canada at the Miss Petite World in West Springfield, Mass.
“It’s really exciting. Miss Petite World is a pageant that prides itself on finding someone who is very well rounded, very community oriented,” said Perrin. “The interview is worth the most at this pageant, which I think is really awesome.”
At the pageant Perrin will compete in such elements as evening gowns, fashion wear, on-stage questions, as well as an optional talent competition, “which isn’t part of the score, but I think it’s another chance to get in front of the judges,” said Perrin.
“This year I’m going to be doing a lyrical dance ... It’s a style of dance that is contemporary, kind of like jazz dancing.”
Perrin has donned the Miss Canada sash before. She represented Canada at the Miss Petite Beauty International in the Dominican Republic a little over a year ago. At the end of the pageant Perrin was named First Princess as the runner-up in her category.
Perrin’s initiation into pageantry had a fortuitous beginning. She was invited to represent Yukon after she was spotted by an executive from Miss Canada Globe Naitonal Pageants while a contestant on the game show Wipeout Canada in 2012.
She received an email from the executive inviting her to compete as Miss Yukon at the Miss Canada Petite pageant. After that she was one of five contestants selected from across Canada to vie for the Miss Canada Charity title during the Miss Canada Globe National Pageants.
Perrin was named First Princess (runner-up) at the Miss Canada Charity pageant in September 2013 in Toronto.
However, last year she was promoted from princess to queen when the 2013 winner was stripped of her crown for failing to fulfill the duties that come with the title.
It’s a crown that fits Yukoners well. Following the 2013 pageant, Perrin set out to find a successor to represent the territory. She found Whitehorse’s Alissa Budzinski, who was named Miss Teen Canada Charity at the Miss Canada Globe Productions last September.
“So Yukon has had two consecutive charity titles in a row, which I think is really amazing,” said Perrin. “It was exciting because at last year’s pageant when Alissa was crowned, I had the opportunity to crown my successor.”
“This year I’ve had the opportunity to assist in selecting our five finalists who will be competing and I’ll be at the pageant to help select the 2016 Miss Canada Charity as well.”
Perrin is hoping to do it again. Though it’s too late for the 2015 pageants in Toronto, she hopes to find someone to wear the Miss Yukon sash in 2016.
“Though this year we haven’t had anyone from the Yukon, we’d like to encourage people to apply,” said Perrin. “In the past Yukon has had a really high success rate and if anyone has any questions or concerns about the pageant, they are free to contact me and I’d be happy to help them in any way.”
Perrin is scouting for teen, miss and petite (under 5’6”) contestants. They must be between 12 and 28 years old, unmarried and a Yukon resident.
Those who are interested can begin the application process by emailing misscanadascout@hotmail.com or they can contact Perrin directly at jennifer.perrin@hotmail.com.
“I’m the new delegate manager for Miss Canada ... I’m still doing my nursing at university, but I’m in charge of a lot of training,” said Perrin. “This past weekend I was in Toronto training girls who are going off to the Dominican.
“I don’t think we have a girl from Yukon this year competing. The past few years we’ve had Yukon represented and I hope, as the search for the 2016 finalists has begun, the Yukon is represented again because whenever a Yukoners goes, they do so well.”
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com