Miss Teen Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant


The Miss Teen Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant is a teen pageant based out of St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada. Founded in 1996, the pageant sets out to annually showcase the talents and achievements and build the confidence of the province's brightest young women, between the ages of 13 and 18. It is the longest-running teen pageant in the province, one of the most widely recognized and successful pageants in Canada, and is one of the select few pageant events in Canada to be televised.
The winner becomes an active ambassador and role model for the province's young women, and over the course of her reign, tours the province, volunteering at various community festivals and charitable events. She is also the recipient of a formidable prize package, including a $1,500 academic scholarship. As of 2009, the pageant is also the selection medium for Newfoundland & Labrador's delegates at the Miss Teenage Canada Pageant, the largest teen pageant in Canada.

Pageant History

The Miss Teen Newfoundland & Labrador Pageant began in 1997 to fill the void for a teen pageant in the province, after the cessation of the original Miss Teen Newfoundland Pageant in 1990. It is held annually at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre, which, with a seating capacity of 1,013, is the largest theatre in the province. Since that time, it has emerged as a major player in the Canadian pageant industry, influencing the scoring systems of numerous other events, and actively seeking to alter the widely held views of what a teen pageant entails.
The pageant was traditionally held in February or March, but as of 2014, the pageant realigned to become a fall event, with its next edition taking place October 2–5. From 1997-2005, the pageant was held over a four-day weekend, however in 2006 it was reduced to three days. As of 2009, the pageant has since returned to the four-day pageant weekend format.
With unprecedented media coverage, web traffic, participants, audience-goers and staff, it is currently the largest pageantry event in the province of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Scoring System

Dispelling the stereotypical view of pageantry, the Miss Teen Newfoundland & Labrador is not a beauty pageant. The scoring system consists of a 40% personal interview with the judging panel, a 20% academic test, a 15% fitness test, and on-stage casual and evening wear competitions worth 10% each. Upon completion of the first half of the show, the top 10 contestants scoring the highest advance to the semi-finals, where they may give a speech on a topic of their choice, worth 25%. The top 10 are then narrowed to the top 5 contestants, who answer an impromptu question, again worth 25%. These scores are then tabulated by a professional auditor to determine the winner of the pageant.
For 11 years, the final round of the pageant included the top four contestants. However, in 2008, the pageant expanded to include a fifth finalist.
In addition to the winner and four runners-up, the pageant also hands out other individual awards, including Miss Teen Academic Achievement, Miss Teen Fitness, Miss Teen Talent, Miss Teen Photogenic, Miss Teen Friendship, and the People's Choice Award.
In 2013, the pageant also included a humanitarian component, where the contestants were tasked to raise a target of $200 each for the pageant's official charity, the Children's Wish Foundation of Newfoundland & Labrador. The 20 delegates of 2013 raised $24,023.86 for the cause.

Weekend Activities

Prior to the pageant's glamorous final gala, the contestants participate in a number of educational or recreational activities as a group. These have included in the past such things as glow bowling, rock climbing, educational seminars, tours of the provincial Government House and House of Assembly, a boat cruise throughout St. John's harbour, taking in local community musical productions, etc.

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