As we all know, when the clock strikes midnight tonight 2016 will be over, and 2017 will begin. While I know of some exciting news about 2017 that I have yet to share, and I am super excited for 2017. It is time to look back on my 2016! So without further a-do…

January 2016

January 2016, not much happened but I
announced my offical sponsors for Internationals!! L’Amore Bridals and Formals my Gown and fashion wear sponsor!

And Kelsey Raber Photography, my offical photograph for the year. In January I also got the opportunity to model in Vernon bridal show, I modeled for my sponsor L’Amore Bridal and Formals. Link to picture here!!

Side not look at that old logo for Kelsey Raber Photography

February 2016

February started with the Kiki fundraiser for local performer Kiki the eco elf! Then came the Vernon Winter Carnival, which is the main reason why February is one of my Busier months for events!! I was visiting royalty at the Queen Silver Star crowning, with other royalty from around BC! I took pictures for Canada’s National Flag day, which said photo soon became the most view pictures on this website.  I got to ride in Hot Air balloons (even if they were 5 feet off the ground still really fun), I visited the “princess Tea Part” at the Local Library, once again with the Queen and Princess Silver Star! There was the Vernon Winter carnival Parade where I got to enjoy some time before the parade with the other royalty. And even so for some reason I was edited out of the TV version of the parade it was still a
blast!! Silver Star Mountain had it’s annual (will be back during the 2017 one) BC Snow Sculpture Competition!! And my favorite event of the month (and one of my favorite pictures of all time) was family Day in Polson Park, and I got to speak at my first event, yes it was not on stage but I still had a pretty decent audience listening in the tent!

March

Not just my 18th birthday but an eye opening month as well! The beginning of March I had my first offical in crown photo shoot with Kelsey Raber Photography, the pictures she took here would soon appear across the globe in various magazines and web articles. Kelsey managed to somehow capture my bubbly personalty in just a few pictures. My favorite though (as you know if you have one of my cards) is the one where I blow a kiss! March was also the month where I raised money for my pal Samantha from RMHBC and I attend her AMAZING super hero lunch, with a Canadian Pacific Railway rep. This month was the time where I became an advocate for spread the word to end the word, and for the first time EVER I shared my story, not knowing where it would get me. Teen Fest Canada, soon invited me to speak at the event (2 hours away) and I accepted, I spoke in front of my first major audience! Where people came up to me after and told me how much of an Inspirational I am. this is the first time I noticed that I, I could make a difference in peoples lives. March ended with my final event with my sister queen, Miss Teenage Kelowna 2015,  we made it very sentimental by going to the same event we went to a year ago, and at that point it was our first event together. (it will be weird to be back in 2017 alone) March was the month where I begin to find my self!!

April

In the pageant appearance seasons April is one of the busyness, and filled wit first times!! HockeyVille Canada, a large national event came to my small area!! I was on national television (in the most Canadian way, hockey night in Canada). More Easter events, which are NEVER in short
supply in the Okanagan. I was invited to be the “princess” at the Vernon Autism Walk, And Lazy One Canada donated some PJ’s for the Team Canada group at Internationals!! I walked in the Canadian Cancer Society Daffidol Dash, being the 8th one to finish! And I danced at the Earth day celebration in Vernon town square park!!

May

The peak in pageant appearance season!! May started with be formally invited to the walk so kids can talk, I got to talk some of the councilors and speak to the manager of the service about how I am a past user of Kids help Phone. I am also now in the Walk so Kids Can Talk commercial to view that click here! It was an honor to speak to these people who are one of the only reasons why I finished High School! I attend the MChappy Day in Kelowna, where I sold bags and balloons for charity.  I was in the Rutland May Day parade, where some people knew who I was?!
Which at the time was a first for me. I finished this month by visiting the May Day Queens coronation day, where I saw the 2015 girls,who I know so well hand their titles over.

June

June started with the worlds rainiest parade. I am not kidding my sash had to be rung out and my hair was drenched. Then I traveled to Vancouver to attend several events!! First event being Barnaby Hights Street Party. Then was
was of my favorites,  The RBC run for kids (last year it was called Child Run) Where I was on TV again and handed out awards to all the participants who ran! And my favorite event of the Vancouver Weekend was miracle weekend, where I meet several fighters and inspirational other volunteer’s!  even got to face-paint beautiful crowns on some little girls.

July

July, where do I start. I graduated fro Highschool, and two weeks later from College. I rode in a Canada Day Parade with my Pageant friend Miss Canada Globe forth Princess! i attend the Canada Day Celebration in Polson park, I even got to meet up with a EWC friend who moved to my town, HOW COOL IS THAT?! I rode in the Lumby Days parade, and ate at the dignitary’s lunch in (Then got food poisoning for a week :P) My Dad and I walked the Do it for Dad fathers day walk, and attended the Fathers Day Car show, which has become a tradition every year I have held a title.  And the finally of HockeyVille Canada event happened….and …..Lumby……WON!! I got to be on national TV when they announced the Winning town, which was ours!! in July I also got to speak at my old entry school about my story, and I meet several young children who have speach impediments. As busy July was for me at events it was non stop at night practicing for Internationals in August.

August

August we got our passports and hopped on a plane to ORLANDO!!! It is strange some of my best Orlando memories are at Disney World not the pageant LOL!! Mom and I got park hopper tickets, and we visited EVERY park and rode (almost) every ride. It was a blast and I cannot wait to go back to DW, also I cried during the Fireworks, that is HOW good they are!! Galaxy Internationals were also in Orlando, I had a blast. I represented Canada to my very best and won the International Peoples choice award!! Not to mention the friend I made from around the world!

September

September was slow, but NOT uneventful!! I was featured on castanet, about winning peoples choice, and I rode on the very TOP of a fire truck in the Salmon Arm parade. But the thing that took the cake in September was me finding Live Out Loud Charity. I decided I would try for the Miss Worldwide Pageant, as I loved what LOLC stood for. So after some work, and essay, interview and form. I got the email “Congratulations you have been selected as Miss Worldwide Teen Canada”.  This words brought tears to my eyes and I instantly started my Inspirational Queens Video!!

October

Barly anything happened in October, I was working hard on an inspirational Queens Video and got the idea to do a calendar as well. October was my down month.

November

This month began is when things began to get busy again. I revived my new crown and sash, and did my first offical photo-shoot, with my sponsor Kelsey Raber Photography!  I started sells on my Calendar, rode in the Kamloops Santa Parade. I started to feel at home with my LOLC family. I became certified in Suicide prevention and started my Core-Character training. Not to mention working for THE PAGEANT PLANET!!

December

I was driven in my family quad, which my dad decorated in the Armstrong Light-up parade. I attended the Victory Life Christmas Ladies gala, presented a check on the CPR Holiday Train!! And began to get booked in 2017 events. I have been told by people around my community that  am an inspiration, something I would never have dreamed of at the begin this year. I rung the Bell for the Salvation army, put on a successful toy and food drive raising 200 pounds of food and more than 50 toy items!I volunteered at the Vernon BC Light-up! And now I am now working on a “smile” video to inspire youth to reach there dreams with a smile on their faces. (still looking for submissions of videos email me for details).

2016 was one heck of a year, here’s to all the 2016 memories and to even better 2017 ones <3. Thank you to all of you for making my 2016 so special <3.

-Samantha Sewell