Sarah Dolina makes the cut for the Miss Teen Ontario Pageant
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Sarah Dolina expects to stand out this weekend among the 20 contestants of the Miss Teen Ontario pageant in Toronto.
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Dolina, 17, from Turkey Point, says the average dress size will be around zero. For her part, Dolina wears a size 8. She hopes this will work to her advantage as she hits the town with a message of body positivity.
“I’m okay being like that,” Dolina said Thursday during an interview at Simcoe Composite School. “If someone like me sees that, maybe they’ll be like ‘Wow – maybe I can do something like that too.’”
Dolina applied to be a candidate last week and was interviewed on a Zoom call over the weekend. She was thrilled to learn that she had made the shortlist. If she wins at the Sheraton Hotel in Toronto, she will qualify for the All-Canadian competition later this year.
Dolina wanted to enter last year’s Miss Teen Ontario pageant, but she backed out when her friends weren’t enthusiastic. A year later, Dolina still takes the plunge because it all looks like a great adventure.
“They said ‘Why would you want to do something like that?’” she said. “They were a bit closed-minded about it. But this is an opportunity to try something new. Sounds fun.
In addition to expanding her horizons, Dolina is drawn to the possibility of scholarships for post-secondary studies. Dolina is entrepreneurial and would like to start her own business after graduation.
Another motivation is a memory Dolina has from elementary school where she was kicked out of the wrestling team because she was taller than the other girls. Dolina didn’t think that was fair and is determined to demonstrate that her full figure is an asset, not a liability.
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In the speech she has prepared, Dolina will chastise all the media for constant and unrealistic messages that a woman can only be successful if she is skinny and hungry all the time.
Dolina also hopes to inspire others about the possibilities of moving on after devastating tragedies and living life to the fullest.
Last October, her father David Dolina, 57, suffered a heart attack while driving on Highway 6 near Hagersville. His vehicle left the road and entered a farmer’s field. First responders worked on Dolina at the scene, but he later died in hospital.
“I want to show that there is life after injury,” Dolina said.
In addition to a public speaking segment, this weekend’s contestants will take part in the evening dress walk and a shorts and tank top contest to gauge their fitness. Dolina was told that model scouts will be attending, but she also likes the idea of having “bragging rights” if she stands out from the rest of the pack.
The Miss Teen Canada website states that contestants throughout the pageant process will be judged on “personality, your ability to communicate, your stage presence, your charm, your academics, your commitment to the community, your beauty, your fitness and your confidence.
“We are looking for delegates who have the “it” factor. They light up a room with their composure and confidence and serve as role models for other young people.
