Taylor Godin

My Miss Teen Canada World Experience

Taylor Godin — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:34:21 -0700

This was My Miss Teen Canada World Experience:

Miss Teen Canada World took place Sunday July 19th to Saturday July 25th 2008 in Toronto, Ontario.

There were 54 contestants from all over Canada.

This was my itinerary throughout Miss Teen Canada World Pageant:

Day 1:

Sunday was the first day of the pageant, and all of us girls met at the Novotel Hotel downtown Toronto. Check in was at 10:00 in the morning and we were busy right away! As soon as we checked in all the girls got hair and make-up done for our photo shoot (which would be used for judging and video clip (which would be used only for the top 20 on the final night). After that we had some downtime where I hung out with my two absolutely amazing roommates. At 8:30 we had our welcome dinner and briefing on the itinerary for the week. Are wake up call for Monday morning was 4:30 am!

Day 2:

Monday was a crazy Day!

4:30am -We woke up and got ready for Breakfast Television.

5:45am- We left for Breakfast Television.

6:10am-Arrive at BT (Breakfast Television.) Everyone was filmed coming off the bus and filing into our seats, to be guests on Breakfast Television. It was very cool to be in a Television studio, and to see the behind the scenes.

7:00am -Breakfast Television starts. We all sat in the studio audience. And had a moment on set where Jen, one of the show's hosts interviewed Katie Stark (The previous Miss Teen Canada-World.) At the end some of us even got to participate in a just for fun game of music guessing.

9:10am-Leave BT and go on a Hippo Bus tour. (A hippo bus is a bus that can go on land and in the water. Did you know that a Hippo Bus costs $1 000 000?) We went into Lake Ontario and toured around Ontario Place. Afterwards we paused briefly in Toronto's version of Times Square to walk through the Eaton's Centre signing autographs and taking pictures. Unfortunately there was no time for shopping.

12:00pm(ish)- We switched to a coach bus after bidding farewell to our Hippo Bus (Happy Hippo) and headed out to lunch at a Greek restaurant called Omonia. The food was amazing and the owner's sons who were ages 9 and 12 came and took pictures with us. They were so sweet. One of them was quite the charmer and called us all gorgeous. The picture taking ended up attracting crowds, and even a police officer asked to pose in a picture with all 54 of us!

1:30pm-The school of PRO MAKEUP professional makeup was nice enough to give us a lesson on smoky eyes and answer all our questions. They had a lot of neat stuff including silicon Alfred Hitchcock head and a foam Yoda. They also gave us our own MTC-W lip gloss.

4:00pm-Once more we hopped on the bus and headed over to MTV Live!!! We got to sit in the audience and because my roommates and I were older than 15 we were able to sit on the comfy couches. It was lots of fun! Some of the girls even won some side bags and we were all given a Venus Embrace Razor. It was a blast.

7:00pm-Acting Class. Okay, it wasn't actually a class but that's what we all thought it was going to be. It ended up being so much more. Chris Healey, the head acting coach talked to us about why people fail at life. There are three reasons. Fear of failing, procrastination and nerves. Then he had some girls come up and he asked them, “If you won Miss Teen Canada-World, what would you do afterwards?” The answers varied from stutters to touching stories. Near the end, Mr. Healey asked us to visualize us as successful and achieving our dreams. I made sure to give Mr. Healey an extra thank-you he was the most inspiring speaker I had ever met!

8:30pm-Back to the Hotel. Bagels, Soup for dinner.

9:30pm- Rob Campbell (the judge of our blogs) talked with us about blogging and how our blogs now are building blocks for the future

Day 3:

8:00am- Tuesday started off with a rehearsal with Sean Cheesman, and Omar (the choreographers of MTC-W) Throughout the rehearsal we practiced our bathing suit walk and evening gown walk for the preliminaries.

11:00 am- We were split into two groups and went to the Lesliville Diner for lunch. It was an excellent little diner if ever in Toronto and Hungry I recommend it!

12:00pm- Rehearsal for the opening number of the final competition night (the Song was back eyed peas- tonight’s going to be a good night)

4:00pm- Got onto the bus and headed over to the much music studio (much on demand) it was great fun, we sat front row of the audience, got interviewed and even had a pillow fight on T.V.?

7:00pm- Was dinner time!

9:00 pm- Elmer Olson- the owner of Elmer Olson Model Management, and Canada’s next Top Model Agent came to the hotel to speak with us about a modeling career.

Day 4:

7:00am-Breakfast at the hotel

8:00am- CN Tower- We all got to visit the CN Tower Wednesday morning, as most of us had never been for the ride up the Tower we were all very excited!

9:30am- Rehearsal-we had rehearsal all afternoon as we had to finish the opening dance and bathing suit number as well!

Lunch @ RICH TREE- We went to a market for lunch it was a very cool experience aswe got to walk around with wooden trays an all the food was fresh and prepared in front of you.

2:00pm: Rehearsal-we had rehearsal all afternoon as we had to finish the opening dance and bathing suit number as well!

6:00pm: Medieval Times- a place where live performances of jousting entertained us while we ate with our hands. Yes, 54 gorgeous pageant girls ate with their hands that night. It was such a fun night and everyone enjoyed the dinner. After the show we stayed after and took pictures with everyone who performed.

Day 5:

Tension and stress deepened as Thursday came since the Preliminary round was that night. But before that, we had the privilege of attending a somewhat private party held by FAZE Magazine. Many singers were there to perform such as, Shiloh, Jessica Tyler, and the Cunningham Sisters, and a guest appearance from Geordie King. As the publisher of the magazine, also one of the judges, Lorraine, introduced each of us, she chose a representative from each province to do a question and answer on the stage. We got to talk to teenage girls who attended the Faze Media Party and I even got interviewed by CBC news!

Thursday night: Preliminaries
The makeup artists started to arrive as we were rehearsing. The problem was our hairstylists didn’t show up. Girls frantically troubled over how to do their hair for the preliminary competition. At the Betty Oliphant Theatre, every girl got a chance to show their beautiful evening gowns and swim wear on the stage for the judges and audience. This was an important night as the scores determined gave an idea who will be going into the Top 20 on Saturday night. I had tons of fun and it felt great to be back on stage again!

Day 6:

Friday morning: Interview Portion on the competition
I reviewed liked crazy for my interview to find out that the interview experience was totally not what I had expected. The interview this time was really conversational. Funny thing is, I stood through my whole interview because the judges forgot to tell me to sit down! But it was great to have a conversation with the judges, didn’t make me feel nervous at all. (I was so ready to answer those hard pageant questions though! Ha-ha)

Friday night: Talent
I must say that the delegates of the MTC-W pageant have AMAZING talents! Every singer’s voice was so beautiful, every dancer’s movements were mesmerizing and all the other talents were very original. I did my a contemporary solo choreographed by Shelley Tookey and it was danced to my own composition recorded by Wes Inaba from pure Entertainment Singers. I felt very confident, and danced to the best of my ability!

After the Talent, we went back to the hotel, had dinner and did our Ms. Congeniality voting and gift exchange. We then received our gift bags from MTC-W and the sponsors. I think I now possess a pin from all the provinces from the west to the east! It was a great way to end off the night. That night before we all went to bed they also announced the Top three Talent who would perform on the final night, on the same stage Canadian Idol is tapped at!...And I was one of the Top Three!

Final Day!!

Everyone was exhausted in the morning but ready for the amazing day ahead! We arrived at the John Bassett Theatre and as Chris and Adam (pageant coordinators) went to look for our dressing rooms, we all sprawled out on the floor for a quick nap. It was a pretty funny sight. Our dressing rooms were really nice – we got space to move around and mirrors with great lighting. We started rehearsal on the stage after lunch. At first it was pretty hectic, but it worked out after a few extra runs. As the clock ticked, some girls were getting more nervous. I was starting to get a bit nervous but as we were waiting backstage to go on for our opening number, my nervousness turned into excitement. The whole night I was excited and having so much fun!

When the time came to announce the Top 10, I admit, I was a bit nervous. I am so happy that I placed in the Top 10. It is another huge accomplishment for me and the experiences that I had throughout the week has allowed me to grow. I was also one of the lucky three that performed on stage as one of the top three talents. After the show I was approached by one of the Judges, Louise Pitre, (She performed in Mama Mia Broadway, and is an award winning actress and singer) and told me I inspired her and that she might see me on Broadway someday….I will always remember the amazing memories and hope to stay in touch with the girls from the pageant.

Overall, I LOVED this pageant experience. It was so much fun, so enjoyable and I learned so much! This pageant has allowed me to learn more about myself, go on TV shows, gain important skills and meet tons of people - not only did I get to meet 53 other AMAZING girls, I also had the opportunity to meet Degrassi: The Next Generation actors - Jessica Tyler who performed at the FAZE Magazine party, and Paula Brancati and Adamo Ruggiero who were both our pageant hosts - also, the pageant judges - Christopher Healy of the Toronto Academy of Acting, Lorraine Zander: publisher of FAZE Magazine, Louise Pitre, Clarence Ford, Melani Chong, Maureen Fenn, Julian Brass of NotableTV.com, even Elmer Olsen! Also, our pageant blog assignment giver, Smojoe as a judge! (I do miss our blog assignments a bit haha) I loved our chaperons - Adam and Chris! My hair dressers and make-up artists were awesome. These were such wondeful people and the memories I have created with each and one of them will be stuck with me forever =)

I am not sure if I will continue to compete in pageants in the near future. After the week, I was exhausted, as it was so much work and didn’t want to. But now, I feel that I might go into it again because it was a lot of fun and the experiences you get are worth it. Maybe the Miss Canada-Universe Pageant will be next…but for this year I am going to concentrate on School as well as my dancing ( both as a dancer and a teacher!)

I would like to Thank, My mom Debbie (for helping me through it all I could not have done it without her help!), my Dad Gord (for all the love and support), my two little brothers Clayton and Cole (for coming to Toronto with my dad to support me on the Final night), my Granddad and Mimi, Lewis and the rest of the Donnan family for all their encouraging words and cards, and my best friend Justine. A big Thank you to the Whole Town of Beaumont for all the support and the votes! As well as all of my sponsors; with their support I would not have been able to compete in Toronto; Town of Beaumont, All 4 Dance, Prism Flow, Grase Industries, and Dr. Denis Redmond.

And that’s a look at how a pageant life would be!

Taylor

Blog #3 ( Free The Children Photo)

Taylor Godin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 21:03:44 -0700

If I were to be the marketing director for Free the Children I would choose the picture of all the children holding hands.

This picture is most powerful because the children are forming a circle by holding hands.
A circle represents so many different things to different people.
Some believe that the past-experience, knowledge, culture-is inside the circle. The future lies outside, and we live on the thin line between.

The circle also works well with Free The Children's mission; North American Empowerment makes for International Development which in turn leads to change.
Without one of these components, Free The Children Charity would not be able to function successfully. The circle represents a connection between everyone
and the use of chidlren in making the circle, symbolizes that even children can make a difference.
If everyone works together we can make a change.

The picture I chose also shows that people can make a difference with one simple action, no matter how small. For example, making a donation to Free the Children ( " A simple choice makes for big results"). Making this donation does more then just help one person, but rather it helps to develop an awareness of social issues in youth and encourages them to become involved and make a difference. Those children who receive funds from Free the Children are then given the opportunity for an education and a chance at a better life for themself and their family.

To help me make my point, everything runs in a circle, I would like to challenge you. Give a friendly smile to someone, and that smile will be passed on to someone
else and in turn that one small action will consequently affect many people.

This is why I would choose the picture with all the children holding hands.

A circle is hope, hope for change, a better future, a better life.
www.freethechildren.com

Niagara Falls

Taylor Godin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:10:39 -0700

On Friday I travelled to visit Niagara falls! Having only seen pictures it was more spectacular then I imagined.

It was an hour drive from Oakville, where I had stayed the night before, but it was worth it. I went with my mom, best friend, two cousins, uncle and grandparents.

When we got there everyone was hungry so we stopped at the Hershey's factory, had a cookie, and they were excellent! Then we decided to head over to Planet Hollywood to have a "real lunch".

After we ate we decided it was time to see the falls! As we were walking out of the restaurant it started pouring! not just a drizzle, I felt as if I was having a shower outdoors! It made our trip even better :)
We ran around in the rain, got all wet, and saw the falls! By the time we were finished observing the falls we decided it was time to get indoors.

Our first stop was the wax museum. It was sooooo cool. The wax museum was called Movieland.

We then decided it was time to get some dry clothes on and head on home!

What a day...

Pageant Is Day is Tomorrow!!

In Montreal

Taylor Godin — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 09:14:37 -0700

My last few days before Miss Teen Canada- Word were full of excitement and adventure.

I was able to spend three days in Montreal before flying to Toronto and in those three days I was able to visit old Montreal.

I learnt that old Montreal is the oldest area in the city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, dating all the way back to New France!The buildings are a major tourist draw as they date back to the 1600s, and as one of the oldest urban areas in North America it is in fantastic shape. I walked down Rue Saint-Paul, saw the Notre-Dame Basilica, and even got my caricature done!

I was also able to visit a bagel shop, one the makes "the best bagels in the world!"

I learnt the St-Viature Bagel shop has been a central part of the cultural experience in Montreal. You can Even Order their famous bagels on-line...yummm. If you want to learn more about the St. Viature bagels shop visit their website at http://www.stviateurbagel.com

But I wasn't done there! I also visited Mount Royal at night to see the beautiful city of Montreal all lit up.Before I was off to the airport I was lucky enough to go visit the Olympic Stadium! I enjoyed the views that the observatory had to offer. It was incredible.

Next Stop Toronto!

Article #3 Free the Children Funds

Taylor Godin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:52:41 -0700

This article is the third out of four article published in the Beaumont Nouvelle.

Article #2 Update

Taylor Godin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:48:39 -0700

This was the second article out of four published in the Beaumont Nouvelle! Enjoy

Newspaper Article #1

Taylor Godin — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 21:27:01 -0700

This article was the first of four article published in the Beaumont Nouvelle! Check them out ;0

Blog assignment #2

Taylor Godin — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 20:03:14 -0700

This is a post from my friend Katherine Highgate! Read about her home town...it sounds fantastic!Maybe one day you will visit Chatham-Kent.

Enjoy, Taylor

I was once told that "The nice part about living in a small town is that when you don't know what you're doing, someone else does."

I still smile when I read this quote, even after hearing it at least a hundred times and I can proudly say that I'm a "small town girl" through and through.

Having lived in the same town all my life, I truly understand what it means to be part of close-knit community, and looking back, I think that it's helped to shape me into the person that I am today.

My name is Katherine Highgate, and later this month I will have the great privilege of representing Chatham-Kent in the Miss Teen Canada-World pageant!

My time spent as Miss Teen Chatham-Kent has been incredible thus far, and while I'm eagerly anticipating spending pageant week in the big city of Toronto, I'm determined to show my fellow contestants what makes Chatham-Kent one of the greatest places to live, and exactly why I'm so passionate about the place that I come from.

http://khighgate.onsugar.com/

The unique thing about my hometown is that it contains an immense amount of history.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, located on the outskirts of Dresden, is a tribute to the life of Reverend Josiah Henson.

Josiah Henson was born in Maryland and worked as a slave for forty-one years. He escaped to Upper Canada via the Underground Railroad in 1830, and in 1841, he moved to Dresden to establish the Dawn Settlement, a place where former slaves could find refuge.

In 2006, I had the opportunity to work as a tour guide at Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site, and I was delighted to discover the fascinating history of the town that I'd lived in all my life.

Uncle Tom's Cabin, the acclaimed book by author Harriet Beecher Stowe, was based on the life of Josiah Henson, and in 1999, the Government of Canada erected a plaque at Uncle Tom's Cabin to designate Josiah Henson as a Canadian of National Historical Significance.

Chatham-Kent is not only rich in history, it has a fantastic array of arts and entertainment to offer.

The Chatham Capitol Theatre opened in 1930, and was one of the largest and most spectacular movie houses in Western Ontario. The Capitol is undergoing a remarkable transformation into a state-of-the-art, 1200 seat performing arts and entertainment centre, and when completed, the Capitol will host a variety of national and international theatre performances, concerts, and special events.

The theatre was saved from demolition in 1995 and is a cultural landmark in Chatham-Kent.

Chatham-Kent is also known as being a rich agricultural community, and my town of Dresden, specifically, is a producer of soybeans, corn and tomatoes.

The strong work ethic that goes hand in hand with farming is what I've grown up on, and I feel thankful to have been raised in place that nurtures strong values such as hard work and determination. The town is well known for its agriculture, and once a year, showcases this by hosting the Dresden Exhibition.

The fair has been going strong for 134 years, and has been one of my favourite local events for as long as I can remember!

Well, that concludes my tour of Dresden, and I hope that you have enjoyed reading about the town that I'm so very proud of. I assure you that the " small town feeling" is like no other, and I hope that you will visit soon in order to truly understand what sets Dresden apart from every other town in Southwestern Ontario!

See you Soon! Love Katherine :)

Do I Have Your Vote?

Taylor Godin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 22:12:30 -0700

Hey Everyone!

Miss Teen Canada is coming up really soon, I'm already in Montreal and head to Toronto on the 16th. I really need the support for the people’s choice award criteria of the competition.

Voting will begin on Wednesday ( TODAY!!), all you need to do is go to the Miss Teen Canada - World website www.missteencanadaworld.com and click on the icon at the top right corner of the screen that says become a V.I.P.

Once you become a vip, you will be able to soon vote for the delegate of your choice (beginning Wednesday, ending noon July 25). TAYLOR GODIN

Love Taylor... If you have any questions message me!

taygodin@gmail.com

And We're Off!

Taylor Godin — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:55:45 -0700

Hey Everyone!

Today was my last day in Beaumont. This afternoon my flight left for Montreal. My mom, best friend Justine, grandmother (Mimi) and Grand-dad, came with me.

I'm so excited to tour Montreal before taking off to Toronto! Before we left my mom and I went out into a canola field behind my house to take some last minute pictures.
This really shows the surroundings of our beautiful town of Beaumont :)

We took off at 3:45 and landed in Montreal safely at around 9:30.

I'll keep you posted.

Taylor