Cindy Duerst didn’t walk away with the coveted title but did capture Miss Interior B.C. and boatloads of self confidence from the Miss B.C. pageant held in Fort Langley over the Canada Day long weekend.
Duerst, a Williams Lake resident, was among 42 contestants vying for the title of Miss B.C. and among eight from the Interior region eligible for the Miss Interior B.C. title.
She ended up coming away with the latter crown.
“I was ecstatic. I went there being open and wanting to learn from the workshops,” she said of her experience.
Duerst, 22, also won the contest’s heart and soul award that was voted on by the pageant participants and based on a real-life story of inspiration told by each contestant.
“To me that meant more than the crown or the sash.”
As for what she’ll do with the title, Duerst says it’s up to her. She hopes to keep in touch with the other winners and join them as they partake in events in various communities. She says her goal is to get more involved in community life and serve as a role model.
The pageant’s charity is Cops for Cancer. Prior to the event, Duerst raised money for the charity by selling tickets on a Canucks jersey.
At the event, she and other contestants participated in a large-scale group fundraiser for the charity.
Duerst is eligible to run for Miss Canada International.