Correction: A previous version of this article stated Ventura lives in Airdrie. In fact, she lives in Calgary. We apologize for this error.
An eleven-year-old Calgarian who was representing Airdrie has taken home the title of Junior Miss Galaxy Canada and has set her sights on both charitable and international pursuits, hoping to prove that anyone, no matter their age, can pursue their dreams.
Pageant Queen Jeanae Elisha Ventura said her passion for music and performing inspired her to compete in talent shows, which eventually led her into the world of pageantry when she was a young girl in the Philippines.
According to Ventura, the stage is where she found her voice and ability to inspire others.
“I am a performer so I’m used to being on the stage and that’s kind of where I can radiate my confidence,” she said. “My goal in pageantry is to inspire others to do what they want to do, to reach for their goals and just be [themselves], and that’s what I do on stage.
“I think the opportunity to be able to touch hearts through walking with confidence and those different ways of expressing who you are through the walk, I think that’s really amazing.”
Since moving to Canada in 2016, the rising star has been involved in several pageants and performing groups. She claimed the title of Junior Miss Calgary 2019-2020, performed with The Young Canadians dance troupe for the Calgary Stampede Grandstand Show, and competed in The Voice of the Champion Kids in 2019.
“When I moved to Canada, I did a pageant representing Calgary and though my race has ended, my journey hasn’t,” she said. “I joined the Junior Miss Galaxy Canada pageant with seven other amazing and empowering Queens.”
Ventura said she prepared for the national competition for eight months, with the aid of both modelling and speech coaches, in order to help her get ready for the two-day finale, which was held in Toronto from Aug. 21 to 23. Though she lives in Calgary, she represented Airdrie in the pageant, as the Calgary spot was already accounted for.
“When I went to the pageant, I saw my sisters (fellow competitors) and I thought this isn’t as tough as I thought,” she said. “When I saw my sisters, I felt like it’s not really about the competition, but it’s about family and the friendships that come from it.
“That’s really what I thought and I was grateful to connect with my Queens because it was actually my first national competition.”
Ventura will represent Canada on an international level at the Galaxy International Pageant next year. In preparation for the worldwide competition, she said she has been raising funds and speaking out on behalf of a number of causes and organizations, including the Kids Cancer Care Foundation and the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
She is also passionate about bringing awareness to topics such as racism and poverty, which she believes are systemic issues.
“I want to speak out about problems that affect society because during this pandemic, many people all over the world are experiencing these problems,” she said. “There are many people – especially in this time – that have no voice. They can’t say ‘I need help.’
“I want to be their voice and speak out about issues and help in my own little way.”
Ventura said she is looking forward to further involvement in her community, which lines up with her long-term dream of one day becoming a doctor.
She added community involvement will also help prepare her for next year’s international competition.
“I think I'll be able to connect to a lot of people and inspire more youth than I would be able to in this past year due to the pandemic, so I’m really looking forward to that,” she said. “That will lead up to international competitions where different winners all over the world will be able to compete in one pageant, which I think is going to be exhilarating.”Follow me on Twitter @carmenrcundy
