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Maple Ridge student vying for Miss B.C. title

Thomas Haney grad Miranda Tymoschuk will compete in Langley on June 30
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Miranda Tymoschuk is competing in the Miss B.C. contest this year.

Maple Ridge is counting on Miranda Tymoschuk to capture the Miss Teen B.C. crown next week.

Tymoschuk is this region’s sole representative out of 50 hopefuls in the 2014 Miss B.C., Miss Teen B.C. and Mrs. B.C. pageant.

Maple Ridge last captured the Miss Teen B.C. crown in 2006, when Alex Keizer won.

Unlike other pageants, there is not a long list of rules that make many women ineligible.

For example, there is not a maximum age limit to participate, nor are there height and weight requirements. Among the contestants are women, who are single parents. This year’s roster of contestants includes a young lady who is a former competitor in the Special Olympics, as well as a contestant with autism.

““This is not a beauty pageant. It will be a well-rounded, intelligent, outgoing and well-spoken young lady who will win the crown, not necessarily the most beautiful girl,” says pageant creator and producer Darren Storsley.

Leading up to the final pageant, all contestants receive professional training in areas such as public speaking, interview skills, media relations, modelling, manners, etiquette, leadership, self-esteem,  health, fitness, nutrition, assertiveness and motivational speaking, and even self-defense.

A student of Thomas Haney secondary, Tymoschuk is an avid volunteer whose most recent project is the Make B.C. Smile campaign.

The campaign strives to bring people together with random acts of kindness and “positive interventions.”

You’ve probably seen students in Maple Ridge this year with signs that say, “Honk if you love someone”.

Tymoschuk has also raised money for Royal Columbian Hospital and has volunteered in Africa with Free The Children and Me to We.

She says she mostly wouldn't have applied to compete in the pageant, if it was just focused on superficial beauty.The pageant's focus on personal development focus and fundraising for Cops for Cancer enticed the teen to send in an application.

"I also figured it would be a good way to share my story with more people and hopefully inspire or give others hope," Tymoschuk adds.

"Especially for parents with children born with a leg deformity like mine. Just like my parents had been worried about me, so many parents worry about their kids future and wonder what it will be like on the other side of all the surgeries. So I want to show them, and their kids that it gets better. I also want to show people that anything is possible - I've been through so many challenging things that I never saw coming, but I've also had so many amazing experiences. I'm proud of what I've accomplished so far, and I think this is a nice way for me to celebrate that and encourage others."

Vote for Miranda

Vote for your favourite contestant for the People’s Choice award at www.missbc.ca. The pageant takes place Monday, June 30 at 7 p.m. at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Langley.