Whitehorse’s Jennifer Perrin is trading her Miss Yukon sash for a Miss Canada one.
The 24-year-old, who has attended national pageants as Miss Yukon the last two years, has been selected to represent Canada at Miss Beauty International in the Dominican Republic this April.
“The international costume I’m having made is awesome,” said Perrin. “Because I’m not specifically representing the Yukon, but instead Canada, it’s made all of maple leaves. So I have a massive head piece, a top and a skirt, and it’s all made of maple leaves ... plastic maples leaves in fall colours.”
Perrin has secured a dress that represents Canada, but there’s much more to do before she leaves and she’s asking for help from her native-Yukon.
The pageant contestants will visit an orphanage in the Dominican and Perrin wants to donate toys and school supplies to the children there.
“I want to raise money to bring as much as I can to help out,” said Perrin. “The girls who went last year said when they brought the things for the children, their faces lit up and were beyond excited.
“So I’m looking forward to that. I’d love to go and buy things myself, but as a student and having to get a bunch of other things to go to the pageant, I’m hoping the community will help assist me in this adventure I’ll be going on.”
Perrin, who will compete for Miss Petite Beauty International Canada at the pageant, plans to hold a fundraiser at Ontario’s St. Lawrence College where she is studying in the pre-health program in the process of becoming a nurse.
She has also set up a website at which to make donations.
“This is a great opportunity to represent the country, but also to give to people in need,” said Perrin. “I’m hoping for $500, I put a goal of $1,000. Anything I can raise will be greatly appreciated, even if I only raise $100 or $200. Anything helps.”
Perrin was the runner-up - a.k.a. “first princess” - at the Miss Canada Charity pageant last September in Toronto. 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 in Toronto. The five contestants secured invites based on the impact each has had on their community through charity work.
The previous year she competed at the Miss Canada Petite Globe pageant. She was invited to represent Yukon after she was spotted by a pageant executive while a contestant on the game show Wipeout Canada.
Though Perrin will now represent all of Canada instead of just Yukon at the international pageant, she hasn’t abandoned her Yukon roots. Perrin will dance the can-can as her talent at the pageant in the Dominican, which will include around 60 contestants from around the world.
“I know a lot of contestants dance and things like that, but I still feel can-can dancing is something that is going to stand out,” said Perrin. “And I’m good at it.”
To help Perrin and the orphans, make a donation at www.gofundme.com/6tjf7c.
“If the people up there will assist in anyway, that would be great,” said Perrin. “I know the people of Whitehorse are awesome. When I was fundraising to go to the pageant a few years ago, I did things like grocery bagging at Super Store, and people up there were extremely kind and generous and supportive.”
Contact Tom Patrick at
tomp@yukon-news.com