Lauren Pederson remembers the moment she was crowned Miss British Columbia as “thrilling.”
A week after the pageant in Vancouver, the University of Victoria student reflected on her journey, saying she entered the competition with one clear goal: to aim high and secure the provincial title after coming close a few years earlier at Miss Canada.
“I was really focused on just shooting for the stars,” Pederson said. “It was definitely a shock, but it was wonderful.”
The Miss BC competition is a two-day event, beginning with interviews, preliminary judging, and fitness assessments on Saturday (April 12), followed by performances, more interviews, and the final crowning on Sunday (April 13).
While the event may not be widely discussed in Canada, Pederson explained it’s a rigorous and rewarding process with real-world impact.
“The number one most important [element] is your interview,” she noted, emphasizing that it accounts for about 30% of the judging criteria. “It’s also about your initiatives, your beauty with a purpose project, your mission, and what you do regarding philanthropy.” Other factors include stage presence, sportsmanship, and connection with others.
Pederson first moved to British Columbia from Ottawa after visiting a friend on Vancouver Island, instantly feeling a deep connection to the area.
“Spiritually, I was like, OK, this is a stunning place to be,” Pederson said. She transferred to UVic to complete her bachelor’s in child and youth care and is set to graduate this summer before beginning her master’s in counselling psychology.
Alongside her academic journey, Pederson is launching her nonprofit – the Inspire Initiative – which focuses on supporting the mental health and confidence of disadvantaged youth.
“It’s my heart, it’s my soul,” she said. The idea emerged from her volunteer work with youth in Victoria, where she saw how a lack of access to basic opportunities, like sports or training programs, could limit young people’s growth.
“They want to try out boxing or take a babysitting course, but just can’t afford it,” she said. “That’s where the Inspire Initiative came from – to inspire confidence and abilities in disadvantaged youth.”
Pederson’s passion for children’s mental health also led her into pageantry.
While in Kingston, she was talking to a photographer about her dream for free, government-funded therapy for children.
“He said, you need to get into Canadian pageantry,” she recalled. That same week, she applied for Miss Ontario. With no prior experience, she packed her car, drove to Toronto, and finished sixth, earning the title of Miss Ottawa.
Since then, her journey has continued to grow, supported by a small team she describes as “wholesome” and mission-driven.
“It was always me, myself, and I,” she said. “Now I have a manager, a hair stylist, someone who helps with PR and emails, and my makeup artist.”
Pederson is also a model and actress in Victoria with Coultish Management, which has aligned its support with her pageant pursuits and charitable mission.
Next up is Miss Canada, set to take place Aug. 12 to 17 in Toronto.
Before then, Pederson plans to expand the Inspire Initiative internationally, with a trip to either Guatemala or Africa. Drawing on her background in missionary work, she hopes to make a global impact.
Pederson acknowledges that pageantry is often misunderstood.
“People think it’s about vanity,” she said. “But if you sit down with any of the Canadian queens and ask them questions, their stories are phenomenal – some grew up in homelessness, others worked multiple jobs. The level of hard work, determination, and authenticity in these women is nothing short of phenomenal.”
