Tanisha Merasty signed up for the Miss Saskatchewan World pageant in Saskatoon the day before the event.
“I just wanted to get some experience,” the 19-year old told paNOW.
Little did Merasty know she would walk away with the crown.
“I had never done a swimwear competition…but I had done a few interviews before and I was just pretty confident with everything,” Merasty said.
A few months ago, the aspiring model attended a convention in Saskatoon hoping to break into the industry. She was selected to attend a Canadian Model Talent convention in Toronto next month. The Miss Saskatchewan crown means Merasty will visit Toronto a second time this summer for the Miss World Canada pageant.
“I’m very excited to represent all of Saskatchewan and I’m very excited to see what I can do with my title,” she said. “I am going to raise awareness for mental illness because I know many people who struggle with it including myself.”
Merasty, who is finishing her Grade 12 education at Carlton Comprehensive Public High School said she hopes her success encourages other Indigenous youth to create opportunities for themselves.
The Miss World Canada pageant will be held July 16 – 23 in Toronto.
Teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca
On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone
