Kara Fillion: Representing the best of Northern Ontario
Miss North Ontario Regional Canada offers young woman from around Northern Ontario a unique pageant experience and is Northern Ontario’s official preliminary to Miss Teen Canada World and Miss Universe Canada. Pageant weekend attracts hundreds of people to Sudbury, boosting tourism and promoting our favourite city.
We caught up with the 2015 Miss North Ontario winner, Kara Fillion, to find out what her pageant experience has been like and what her future plans are!
What was your experience at the Miss North Ontario Regional Pageant like?
My experience at MNO has been a life changing opportunity. I met inspiring people that motivated me to be the best that I can be and to follow my dreams. I met amazing girls from around Northern Ontario and made many good friendships. I gained a lot of confidence, learned a lot about myself and about my community. I got to raise over $15,000 for children with cancer.
Have you been in any other pageants?
I have been in the Miss Teen Ontario Pageant in Cochrane, the Miss Teen Heartbeat Pageant in Timmins as well as the Miss Teenage Canada Pageant in Toronto
Favourite part of participating in MNO?
Meeting the girls and creating amazing memories. Being part of an incredible fundraiser that supports families in Northern Ontario dealing with childhood cancer.
Behind the scenes?
What the audience doesn’t get to see is the hours spent being a beauty with a purpose. We spend many hours fundraising and volunteering in our community. We prepare a speech and we have a personal interview with the judges. It’s not all about the gown and the shoes, it’s truly beauty from the inside.
Tips for the girls entering this year?
Enjoy every minute of it and be yourself. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams and be persistent!
Future plans?
I plan on going to Miss Earth Canada this summer and Miss Universe Canada in a couple of year as well as graduating from university.
Thoughts on the “Big Photoshoot”?
The Photoshoot was so much fun! Chelsee, Cora and I worked as a team to create amazing pictures. It was a unique theme as well!
What 2016 contestants should prepare for?
I believe that it is very important to give your 100% in fundraising, your speech and your beauty with a purpose. If they feel confident that they did the best they could, no matter what, they will be proud and they will be winners
Did winning MNO bring you any other opportunities?
Being MNO gave me the opportunity to be selected as a Miss Universe Finalist which has been my dream for a very long time. I also got the chance to have photoshoots with many different photographers. Being MNO also gives me the opportunity to inspire others to believe in their dreams and to never give up!
The 2016 pageant takes place the weekend of May 12-14. You can find out more about the Miss North Ontario Regional Pageant on their website www.missnorthontario.com or on their Facebook page.
Emily Franceschini
Emily Franceschini is former full-timer and lover of all things purple. In a past life, Emily worked as a marketing manager and spent her free time searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Now all of her time is free time and she's spending it exploring the world.
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