Miss Newfoundland and Labrador Pageant

May 3, 2010

Its amazing how fast time can go. Im over half way through my year, and I have sincere apologies about my lack of updated journals. Im sure if your reading this, you know what i’ve been up to, seen my interviews, or know me in person, but i’ll give you my summary of the craziness of my life in the past months.

After my last journal (which was ALL the way back in October, once again awfully sorry) my life has taken a bit of a 180 on me. I am growing as a person every single day, and I credit the title for the majority of that change, all for the absolute better of course. A girl with a crown is usually characterized as a pretty, well-spoken young lady, however with this crown, this title, I’ve been gifted with the power to influence, to impact, to raise awareness. I never realized this power, until I had myself head under in an seal hunt controversy. It was defiantly a whirl wind, a whirl wind I wont soon forget. And as crazy, and ridiculous as much of it was, come all in the end, it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Before it broke in January people would ask me where I was from, i’d tell them “Winterton”, and  a surprising amount of people wouldn’t know where Winterton was, now when I do events people seem to know my name, my family story, where im from, and where Winterton is. In fact we have had tourist vist my home town, because they want to see where I come from. Thats absolutely humbling.

The end of January I have the amazing opportunity to travel to Montreal for the “Northern Lights” Conference thats held bi-annually, this year in Montreal. I stayed at the “Intercontential” hotel in downtown Montreal. My first time to Montreal, It was a conference to honour and showcase the native ways of life, the native people, and ofcourse-the seal hunt. I spent 3 amazing days in Montreal, modeling seal skins (everything from jackets, to wedding gowns, yes-Seal skin Wedding gowns), and meeting the people are the conference. There was so many people at the conference that i spoke to that truly influenced me. I met several young natives, many of which come from Iquavik, and Iquavit, who all shoke my hand, and informed me they were happy with my stand for the hunt, but the person who made the biggest impact on me that weekend was the opposition leader of Newfoundland and Labrador-Yvonne Jones. It was my first time meeting Ms. Jones, and since shes become a dear friend of mine I admire her stand on everything she does, her bravery, as well as her determination, She is truly an inspirational role model to me. The final night of the Northern Lights Confernce was the gala. We started with an amazing run way show, in which I modeled Seal Skin right next to Yvonne Jones. The finale of the show was a deer skin, one shoulder wedding gown that was made by a woman in St. Johns. It was white, and all the beading was made from the bones of the animal. It was absolutely breath taking. I gave a speech when I reached the end of the runway, and I felt like a politician. Everyone in the room, everyone from premiers, to DFO leaders, to ministers of fisheries was present, I started my speech in true Newfoundlander humour, and seeming how I was in a wedding gown, I asked the whole room of people to marry me.  If you get the power to influence a smile-take it! An experience that wont soon be forgotten.

I did so many interviews during that era of my year. Infact the day after the news broke, I did a total of 16 interviews, provincially, nationally, and internationally. I was asked if when the crown had been placed on my head back in September, if I had expected this. Ofcourse I didn’t, even when I wore the jacket, I didn’t expect this. But it goes to show that when that crown is indeed placed on your head, you never know what your going to be faced with, or the challenges in which lay before you, or who your going to meet along the way. Never under estimate the power of the title, or the crown. Take every opportunity and run with it, and have a great time along the way.

Being from a small town such as Winterton, where everyone knows everyone I have had amazing support from the people from my small town. Whatever I can do there with the title, I will. In February the Winterton Volunteer fire department had the annual Winter Carnival in support of the department, a full weekend of festivities for the residents of, and around the community. During that weekend I planned a “Princess tea party” for the little royalties of the Winterton and area. We had 47 little princesses come out, and what a great experience. We decorated cup cakes, made crowns, and played games., It was so nice to see 47 little princesses  with hair curled, and poufy dresses all come out to have tea.  This was defiantly another highlight of my year.

In March I had the opportunity of a lifetime. To co-host a dinner at parliament. The very first time that Seal Meat was served on the menu at the Parliamentary Restaurant. High profiles such as Michael Ignatieff (Liberal leader of Canada), Gail Shea (Fisheries Minister of Canada), Mark Critch, and several other MPs, and Senators, were all present. Amazing experience. I stayed at the Chateau Laurier, and saw the Capital City. Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette made it possible for me to be there. Something I had been looking forward to for quite some time, a dream some true. Unfortunately the morning of the luncheon I woke up incredibly sick with no voice, I came right after the luncheon, after a visit to the doctor, I was sentenced to bed rest away from anyone else for 5 days due to a virus. The funny thing was that every news crew seemed to know I had been sick, seeming how I didn’t do any interviews. The title in Macleans magazine that was reporting the luncheon was titled “Why Miss Newfoundland wasn’t talking”, above any other title that could have been chosen for such a great event.

As Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, you are considered an ambassador, a role model. Donating my hair to Locks of Love has been something I have wanted to do for years, so in the heat of my spot light, I went to my fabulous hair dresser-Krista Neville from Identity Salon and Spa, and she used her magic shears to cut 11.5 inches of my locks. Since I have raised awareness for the Cancer research cause, and have met 2 others who have cut they’re hair off, after I had. I consider this to be one of the best things i’ve ever done.

The last weekend of March I attended the Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador pageant in St. Johns. Kudos to Chelsea Squires-Miss Teen 2009 on an amazing year. I loved reigning with her. She makes every situation fun, and humorous, and I know i have a life time friend in her. Also HUGE congratulations to Somaria Balram-Miss Teen 2010. Congrats! I am absolutely thrilled to reign with you, im sure you’ll have a fantastic year, and do us proud.

As for me, im preparing myself for the summer that is on its way. Im sure it’ll be the summer of a life time, and I cant wait for the adventures that lie before me. As I said in the past few months my life has taken a 180. Through the challenges I have found myself, discovered who I am, what I want, and just how proud I am of where I come from. My heart belongs to my home town who have been behind me on everything. Next month marks my 20^th birthday, I am so thrilled to have the opportunities i’ve had at the age I am, and I cant wait to see what life has in store for me from now on.

Love Always,

Sara Green
Miss Newfoundland and Labrador 2009-2010

October 12, 2009

“The new Miss Newfoundland and Labrador is-Sara Green, Winterton”. Everyone jumps up, my mouth drops.  It was quite obvious that I was completely surprised, and I was. I was standing on the stage with 16 stunning women, who are each amazingly strong willed, and over achieve, I would have never imagined that I, the girl in flats, and short plain nails, would carry away the crown. The night seems like a blurr to me. I remember repeatedly yelling “Im Miss Newfoundland and Labrador” as a way to make it sink in..it didn’t. For the next week I kept my crown and sash in eye sight, just to make sure no one would come take it, if it wasn’t real. It really felt like a dream.

A couple of weeks before the Pageant I was suffering from insomnia, and of course, the laptop got broken out. I had done a couple of pageants, and even carried a title before, but hadn’t in a couple of years, and didn’t think I would again. While surfing the internet, in a desperate attempt to make myself tired, I found myself on the Miss Newfoundland and Labrador website. I live by Wayne Gretzkys quote “You Miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”, so I applied. My insomnia never did cure that night, because as soon as I sent my application my brain starting rushing, trying to comprehend what I had to do, and what I just got myself into.

Every year I challenge myself. I guess we can say its my New Years Resolution for my whole life. I did Fire Fighting last year, however it was August month, and I hadn’t done anything yet. This was probably the biggest reason I wanted to do the pageant. I wanted to make Top 8, but winning hadn’t even crossed my mind. I wasn’t there to win, I was there for a challenge, to meet new people, to have some fun.  And meet new people, and have some fun I did.  That weekend I met friends, that I can honestly say, I know will be in my life forever. And have fun? It was a blast. And if you were to ask me my favourite part of the whole weekend, it wouldn’t be the Gala, or meeting everyone, it would be running to each ride with Daisy Dawe on my side, and squealing to the top of our lungs telling the Carnival man to go faster. These are the moment that stands out, The ones that didn’t involve scores, or a crown, but with friends, and laughing until we cried.

You learn a lot about yourself with a crown on your head. I learned that im not as rough as I think I am, and that a crown can make me cry (tears of happiness of course), and that the most important people to celebrate your achievements with, are family. During my first walk as Miss Newfoundland and Labrador, my focus was not the pictures, or the interviews, but hugging my grandparents. And thats just what I did, half way through my first walk, belly to the stage, hand on crown, hugging my grandparents who were standing on the floor. The embrace of pride, and love I felt is the only clear moment I remember from the crowning. The moment that meant the most.

“A firearms license, a big game license, and a line and jigger are not usually associated with the Winner of the Miss Newfoundland and Labrador pageant, but Sara Michelle Green is hardly your typical beauty queen”. Denise Pike from “The Compass” did an interview with me the week I had won, and when I read the article, this was the introduction, and my favourite part. Im not a typical pageant girl, if anything I am a rough “baywoop”. But that’s what made me Miss Newfoundland and Labrador. If there was advice that I could give to anyone, it would be to constantly be yourself. I never hid the fact that I hunt, or fish, or hike, or that I would much rather be doing any of it than shopping. It makes me who I am. I always hear people say “She worked so hard for that title”. I can honestly say, I didn’t work hard for Miss Newfoundland and Labrador. I worked hard to become the person I am, and that made me Miss Newfoundland and Labrador. Be yourself. No one else is very good at it, but you.

It seems like immediately after the pageant was over, my events started piling up. But my first one, the one that I will never forget, was my Home Coming. A couple of weeks before the pageant I had gone to my town mayor, and asked if the town could sponsor my entry fee, and within hours the whole council, as well as the park council had all agreed, and everything was arranged. With that kind of support, when I had won, the support kept on coming. My family and the town had arranged a Motorcade going through Winterton, and Outside Pond Park, and a social afterwards. It was amazing to see how many cars had come out, but what excited me even more, was the fire trucks leading, and at the rear of the parade, and all the firemen in attendance. The motorcade ended at the Rec. Center. Being one of the last to walk in, I had no idea what to expect. When I walked through the door, everyone turned toward me, and clapped. I am pretty hard to crack, nothing really makes me cry...but I have to say, this did. To see so many friendly faces all there to support me, was a feeling I will never forget. I have to send a HUGE thank-you to my town. I am so proud and honoured to have done you proud.

Now that everything has almost sunk in, I can reminisce the weekend, and all the amazing people I had meet, or had already known, and gotten to know better. I met Sheena Windsor for the first time the Friday of the pageant, and I can since say she has become one of my closest friends. I admire her, and commend her on her amazing year, and all the great things she has accomplished. I wish you the best girl. I can also think about what I learned about myself, and how much my life will change.  Since the pageant I have gone shopping, Miss Newfoundland and Labrador is going to need shoes, of which I had few (pretty ones anyway). But I can tell you; my rubber boots will never get neglected, no matter what.  “No matter where you go in life or what you become. Don’t ever forget where you came from, and how you got there.”

Love for always,

Sara Green

Miss Newfoundland and Labrador 2009-2010