I can honestly say that this past week will go down as one of the best weeks of my life. I met new friends, met up with my Alberta girls, and I got to experience things I never thought I would get to! I had the best time and it’s all thanks to Michelle and her team at Miss Teen Canada World.

My favorite part had to Much Music. I guess it’s because I grew up watching the shows that played on that channel and I got to meet the hosts I grew up watching and listening to. I am also really happy to say that the hosts didn’t let me down. They made our experience so great by taking the time to take pictures with us, chat with us and even joke around with the group! It was really awesome.

Another really awesome part of the trip was our dinner at Medieval Times. I am going to be honest, I was a little hesitant as to if I would have a good time or not. I am, unfortunately, allergic to horses
which means that I had to eat in a glass box with our chaperone, Christi, and my other Alberta girl Suzie (also allergic). It was hilarious, we had the best time just goofing off and cheering on our knights in battle. “What happens in the VIP lounge, stays in the VIP lounge.”

The final night was pretty amazing. I am so happy to say that I achieved my goal of making the top 20!! It was a dream of mine, and I worked really hard. I am so happy that my hard work paid off. Also, I want to wish a big congratulations to Jill Martin, Miss Teen Saskatchewan World, who has now received the prestigious title of Miss Teen Canada World 2013!! She is well-deserving and I am very proud of her. I had an absolutely amazing experience and I am so happy I signed up for this adventure last summer.

Once again, thank you Miss Teen Canada World for this crazy ride and all of the memories! I will never forget my experiences and the friends that I made this week!

Madi,

Miss Teen Red Deer World 2013

Oh my goodness, I am so sorry that I have not updated my blog lately! I have had such a crazy, whirl wind of a week I have fallen asleep with my lap top open every single night!

We have had so many amazing sponsors this week that have made our week so much more fun! We got to have a shopping spree at Garage, one of my favorite stores and it was a blast. We went to Eaton Center mall, one of the most amazing malls that I have ever visited. It was insane because when we walked in, we were being treated like celebrities! People were taking pictures of us and asking to take pictures with us! It was crazy! We also got to eat at the mall and it was actually a super nice food court.

We have also been working extremely hard on our choreography for the show! Sean, our choreographer, has worked with people like Rihanna, Christina Auguilara, JLo and more! We’re dancing to some of my favorite songs which makes it all that more fun to do!

Last night was preliminaries and I think it went really well! The room and stage was a lot bigger than the one at regionals and it was easier to walk on. It really gave me more confidence when I heard my family cheering for me in the audience! I’m so happy that they made it up so early! They went to Canada’s wonderland yesterday and I am so jealous! Maybe I’ll make them take a trip there for me before we go home…

I’m so excited for talent night tonight! I get to perform my lyrical solo that Hannah Peacock taught me! Also, I finally get to hang out with my family!

I’ll keep you posted!

Madi

I have to say, this day will probably go down as one of the best days of my life. It was CRAZY busy and a little insane but wow, it was so much fun!!

First off, we had to wake up at 4 am! Which is pretty nuts considering that I came from being in BC for a month, meaning that in the timing I was used to it was 1!! However with a little coffee and some excitement we were ready for Breakfast Television Toronto! I have to say, the city of Toronto is absolutely breathtaking at dawn. BTV was so much fun, we had girls who have interesting stories or talents share their stuff and we got to be a part of a highly respected show nation wide!

Immediately after this, we headed to breakfast in High Park. This restaurant is hidden in the trees of the park but it is so adorable and extremely delicious! We hung out here for a bit and then we were off to visit the CN Tower! It was a crazy experience visiting the tower. I don’t know if any of you reading this have ever been to the top of the CN Tower, but when you are in the elevator going up your ears pop because you’re going up so high. Also, the view from the top is crazy!! You can see all of Toronto and it’s unbelievable. I have to say, I was pretty freaked out when I was walking on top of the glass floor…

Then we were off to the distillery district for lunch and a scavenger hunt!! This is honestly one of the coolest and most unique places that I have ever been and I loved just touring around. If you ever go to Toronto, you must visit!!

Next stop was Yorkdale mall because the very generous people of Costa Blanca sponsored us all $50.00 gift cards for a mini shopping spree in their store! It was so much fun. I love their clothes and we all got to pick out a new summer outfit! Thanks Costa Blanca!

Okay. So our next destination was my highlight of the whole day..

We got to go to Much Music to be on New. Music. Live. !! This was soooo much fun! I have to say though, I was extremely starstruck when Lauren Toyota came out. I have grown up watching her host my favorite shows and I am always watcing NML weekdays for music and news! Also, when I first got into my all-time favorite show, Pretty Little Liars, she was the one I would watch for discussion after the show. I have to say though, I really admire her so much more now that I got to witness her in action. She is not only extremely focussed on the task at hand and delivering a very professional job, but whenever we broke for commercial, she took the time to take
pictures and chat with all of us in the audience! She is a true class act and I will forever be a fan! I am going into Communications Studies this Fall at the University of Calgary and I don’t really know what I want to do with it yet. However, I can go into media and I would love to do something like Lauren. I even got to take a seat in the host’s chair and hold the Much mic, do you think it suits me? I had such a wonderful experience at the Much Studios and throughout the whole day. It was just plain amazing. Thanks to everyone who made this day so special and to all of the generous sponsors who made our day a lot more fun!

(Megha and I hosting our own little NML show. Maybe one day…)

Can’t wait to see what else we’ll get to do!

Love,

Madi

Hey Everyone!

So this morning I woke up with some butterflies in my tummy, but they were the good kind. I was so excited I couldn’t sit still, I think I was driving my mom a bit crazy! These girls are awesome. I got matched up with a roommate (Miss Teen Vancouver Island World) that couldn’t have been a more perfect match and so far I think this is going to be the best week of my life!! I got to finally see Megha in person and she is absolutely stunning. I got a little starstruck because it’s so crazy seeing someone’s pictures online all the time then actually meeting them! She is the epitome of grace and poise, exactly what a Miss Teen Canada should be.

We also had an awesome Welcome Party just after registration and it was amazing! Schwartzkopf Professional gave us some free hair goodies, we got to eat some yummy cookies with our names on them, and Hi-Tec Canada fitted us for our own pair of new runners!! So cool. we also got to talk to some Free The Children representatives about what it would be like to actually do a trip to Kenya or India with the FTC team to help out. Something that I am really thinking about doing. I am so happy to announce that I raised over $7,000 for Free The Children and I couldn’t have done it without such an amazing support group! Thank you Red Deer! I’m going to make you proud!

Love,

Madi

Tomorrow afternoon I am boarding the plane from Kelowna to Toronto to begin the experience of a lifetime! I am so excited to meet everyone, see everything and do everything as best as I can! So much preparation has went into this, I just can’t believe it’s actually here. In January, this week seemed so far away and when I look back at the time from then to now, it seems like just yesterday I was standing in line for registration completely unaware of the “pageant world” and what it had to offer!

I’m super excited to see all my Alberta ladies once again! A lot of us have stayed in contact since January and I can honestly say that I think I have found friends for life. These girls are kindhearted and fun, and so much like me! I remember sitting around waiting to get our hair done for the show and us all just talking, sharing similar experiences and sending snap chats! If this week in Toronto is going to be anything like that, I’m going to have the time of my life.

My parents have invested so much time into this whole experience with me, I just can’t thank them enough, and I would also like to take this time to thank all the friends that stood by me through it all. This experience really showed me who my true friends are, and the ones that stuck around I know will be around for life.

To all the title holders that I will be meeting this week: I’m so excited to meet you all! From what I have seen from our Facebook group chat, you all seem so awesome and fun, we are going to experience things this week that some of us may never have dreamed of, and I am so happy to be going through it with all of you!  See you in T-town!

Sincerely,

Madison Fertig

PS- I would also love to give a HUGE good luck to my Strive family competing in Vegas this week! Sorry I couldn’t be there with you guys, but you’re all going to do great! Love you girls with all my heart.

I came across this picture today when I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed and I was really taken aback. It wasn’t controversial. It wasn’t more news on Kimye’s baby. It was inspiring! An artist, Nikolay Lamm, recreated a Barbie doll modelled after the measurements of the average 19 year old American girl. The differences are pretty crazy. To think that this is the body image that my generation was growing up with shocked me! Like many things, we don’t notice how badly change is needed until it is compared to something better. This “new” yet normal Barbie, is better. No wonder girls my age and younger struggle with self confidence and body image. It’s because the Barbie dolls we played with, with the “dream life” were literally setting us up for an unrealistic image of beauty.

As I am reading the comments on this Facebook post, mothers are posting that they have emailed the artist asking how they can purchase a doll. This is what people want! I would be happy to see a change in my time so that girls can finally be comfortable in their own skin. This Barbie is not fat by any means. She is normal and she is beautiful.

Wow, has it ever been a crazy month. For anyone who didn’t graduate from Alberta, I am very jealous of you because you did not have diploma exams taking up every single last minute of your time in June! For everyone who does call Alberta home, I hope you did well! What a relief to be done!

I had an absolutely amazing time at grad! What an amazing way to finish up my final year. The night before grad, a few of my friends and their families gathered at my house for a barbecue. We had lots of fun, and it was nice to get together as the actual graduation day is so hectic! We actually had a balloon release for Kale in the evening as well. It was really difficult celebrating without Kale, as he was always the life of the party. However, we made sure that he was still a big part of the day! Our party limo stopped by his family’s house when we were on our way to the graduation ceremony and we shared a visit with them. Also, the school did an excellent job of bringing Kale into the ceremony as much as possible.

In the evening’s celebration, I had the honor of presenting the speech on behalf of the Grad Committee on our Service Project! I was flattered to be given such a responsibility and I got to present with my friend, Madison. The service project’s total income now stands at $150,000 due to other fundraisers that came about after the actual Service Project week! I still can’t believe that we thought $45,000 would be a stretch…

When I look back at my grade 12 year, it is absolutely nothing like what I imagined. Friends changed, lessons were learned and there was a lot of sorrow. However, our graduating class came out stronger and closer than ever and I am so proud, because it could have gone the complete opposite way. I want to thank all of my graduating class for not giving up on anyone and I would also like to give thanks to the staff of Notre Dame High School for providing such a safe environment for all students. The graduating class of 2013 is truly unstoppable.

PS- nationals in 11 days!!!