Local pageant contestant returns home

By Vicki Winger

The Miss World Canada Pageant has now closed. The Press spoke with local candidate Nicole Podgurney on her experience of a lifetime. It’s been a long Journey in which one she will never forget. It began early in the year with her sister Kristina McDougall coming across an advertisement for the pageant on the internet. McDougall began encouraging Podgurney to sign up and felt she had a good chance.

It was not long after her application submission that she was accepted for an on-line interview and was approved to compete in the provincials.

A total of 28 women competed in the provincials along with Podgurney. Nicole took the crown for Miss Woodlands at the provincial pageant in March. Along with Podgurney, five other women received titles and moved on to the nationals. Podgurney was up against 56 other women competing for the national title.

Her mother, Becki Podgurney, was a strong supporter and advocate during both competitions attending every event for moral support, and documenting video footage of the journey. She was by her side every step of the way.

The whole experience was phenomenal states Podgurney. It had been strenuous and time consuming as a typical day was 18 hours long with photo shoots, preparations, and lots of media work.

Although not receiving the national crown, Podgurney does hold the title provincially as Miss Woodlands and will continue her work with the pageant. Her role is to promote her title and maintain focus for her cause and her awareness of PTSD and First Responders. She’s had an opportunity to speak with one of the national judges and will be collaborating with her in the next while regarding first responders and soldiers who are currently hospitalized for PTSD. She will go on to crown next year’s candidate at the provincial pageant.

Podgurney’s long-term goal in life is to get her degree as a dental technologist and, hopefully, be able to open up a lab here in Whitecourt.