Miss Teen Canada-World Crowned in Toronto!

Toronto, ON: Michelle Weswaldi, Executive Director of Miss Teen Canada-World, today announced the winner of the Search for Miss Teen Canada-World held last night, on July 25 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, John Bassett Theatre. The 2009 winner is SIERA BEARCHELL, aged 16 from Moosejaw, Saskatchewan.

Girls 13-19 years of age from all over Canada competed on Saturday, July 25 in Toronto, Ontario for the coveted title of Miss Teen Canada-World 2009. The category winners were: Siera Bearchell for winning the overall swimsuit award and Suzanna Alsayed for winning the best talent award and Iona Macleod for winning the congeniality award and Danielle Fink for winning the photogenic award and Julie Anne Nieuwhof for winning the $2,000 academic scholarship award and Alicia Anne Angus for winning the supermodel with style award and Wendy Huang for winning the people’s choice award and fundraising award.

The top 20 semi-finalists were: Sarah Striga, Wendy Huang, Danielle Fink, Taylor Godin, Alexandra Hanasz, Jessica Catorc, Rhea Sideris, Kyla Wills, Andaria Alexander, Cindy Liu, Chelsae Durocher, Suzanna Alsayed, Joanna Mandap, Cassandra DiFruscio, Alicia Anne Angus, Carol-Ann McManiman, Brianna Gauthier, Siera Bearchell, Andrea Bennett and Danika Landry. These girls competed in the swimsuit competition with swimsuits provided by Via Brazil. After the completion of the swimsuit competition, the top 10 finalists were announced and they competed in the evening gown category. They were: Taylor Godin, Rhea Sideris, Danielle Fink, Wendy Huang, Sarah Striga, Andaria Alexander, Chelsae Durocher, Suzanna Alsayed, Joanna Mandap and Siera Bearchell.

Upon completion of the evening gown segment the group was narrowed to the top 5 finalists. They were: Siera Bearchell (SK), Rhea Sideris (BC), Andaria Alexander (NB), Chelsae Durocher (ON) and Sarah Striga (AB).

Then the runner ups were announced and the 4th runner up was Chelsae Durocher. The 3rd runner up was Rhea Sideris, 2nd runner up was Sarah Striga and the 1st runner up was Andaria Alexander.

The new Miss Teen Canada-World, Siera Bearchell, 16, is a gifted dancer, a skilled golfer and an inspiration to all. Siera has received numerous awards and scholarships and is an undefeated city champ golfer for two years in a row.

Dancing for over thirteen years, she has choreographed many dance numbers. With the tragic loss of her home and belongings in February, she decided to focus her platform subject on Fire Prevention and is already working with the Red Cross to make that dream happen. She attends A.E. Peacock Collegiate and holds high academic standards, is in grade ten and always strives for the best. She is looking forward to competing at the Miss Teen World Competition from August 24-29, 2009 at the Hilton Westchase Hotel in Houston, Texas, and afterwards, her ME TO WE trip to continue her work with Free The Children.

The Miss Teen Canada-World (MTC-W) Competition is the only national search that conducts provincial competitions across the country to select 54 finalists for 2009. MTC-W is the only competition that has the rights to send the winner to the International Miss Teen World Competition. Organizers have searched the country for the best of the best. These Canadian teenage finalists are those who will compete for the title of Miss Teen Canada-World to represent Canada. Miss Teen Canada-World won a prize package valued at $25,000 in cash, wardrobe, jewelry, travel, a make-over, photography, and acting lessons was awarded. Miss Teen Canada-World provides the winner with the opportunity to be an ambassador for Canada with the mandate to empower youth to take a leadership role in their communities. The girls have already learned first-hand about becoming a positive role model, and contribute to projects in their community by raising funds for Free The Children. By July 6, the girls collectively had surpassed the goal of $20,000 and last night presented a cheque for $49,700.

“We thought that since the winner will be volunteering in Kenya in 2010 on a Me to We trip, it should be a requirement for the MTC-W Competition for each national delegate to raise $400 within their communities towards Me to We’s charity partner Free The Children,” says Weswaldi. The winner will be invited to participate as a volunteer on a Me to We trip. This experience is to gain first-hand interaction by visiting a Free The Children project overseas. Their commitment to youth is to engage them in global development and social issues education so that they take action to make a difference.

Lead sponsors are: Faze Media, BEINGGIRL.CA, Elmer Olsen Model Management, Pro Makeup, Toronto Academy of Acting for Film & Television, FANTASY GEMART, Novotel Hotels, Jeanne Lottie, Freda’s, Fiorio group.
For more information, please visit:
www.missteencanadaworld.com | http://www.freethechildren.com

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tel: (416) 363-1255 office or (416) 200-3577 mobile
Email: dknight@dkpr.ca or chris@dkpr.ca | http://www.dkpr.ca