August 27, 2023 • 35 mins
Today on Episode 241 of the I Love Kelowna Podcast, we have an incredibly inspiring conversation with Laura Draycott, a retired optician and business owner turned pageant queen. You'll be moved by her incredible journey, from her humble beginnings to becoming a part of the Miss Senior World Pageant. Laura’s story is one of motivation, resilience, and grace, as she encourages us to embrace aging and seize every opportunity that comes our way.
We have an intriguing look into the world of pageantry, including the intense makeup, high heels, and gowns one must wear. Laura details how she is using her platform to encourage positivity and empowerment among senior women.
Get inspired by Laura's zest for life and her dedication to representing Canada in the upcoming pageant in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Laura nominates Natisha Duffy - Train with Tish, Jenny McKinney - Makeup Artist, and Stephen Maser - Aura Wealth Management for future episodes of I Love Kelowna Podcast.
NOMINATE YOURSELF, ANOTHER PERSON OR A BUSINESS TO APPEAR ON THE I LOVE KELOWNA PODCAST
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is episode 241 of the I Love Kelowna podcast,
and today I am here with LauraDrake Gott.
She is a former chiropractor, aretired optician.
Here in Kelowna, she's acommunity volunteer and she's
done various fundraisers,including Powderhounds Adaptive
Ski Program.
(00:23):
She was born in Hamilton,raised in Calgary, and in her
youth she was a competitivegymnast, a dancer, a model and a
CFL cheerleader.
And today we're going to talkall about 2023, miss Senior
World Canada, a pageant thatLaura is involved in.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Kelowna, one of the most beautiful places in the
world to live, surrounded byprovincial parks, pine forests,
vineyards, orchards andmountains.
Wouldn't it be great if therewas a podcast about our love of
Kelowna?
Oh no, it's real.
This is I Love Kelowna aninterview style podcast about
(01:10):
the fabulous and fascinatingpeople that make up our great
city and the Okanagan.
Intimate conversations withentrepreneurs, executives,
thought leaders, creatives andanyone who has an interesting
story to tell about how they'recontributing to our wonderful
home.
This is I Love Kelowna.
And here's your host, luke JMinkus.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Laura, it's great to see you.
It's been a little over fiveyears since you were on the show
.
It was 2018, july 2018, andthat was episode 14.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Wow, and this is episode 241.
Oh, almost 214, almost 200.
Right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Crazy.
Well have you been.
I've seen you a couple of timessince then.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Life is really good, I think.
Back then I was.
I had a business, an eyeglassesstore, and was working there.
I've since sold that andretired and now I'm on a new
adventure.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Nice, so I know you were born in Hamilton, grew up
in Calgary.
When did you move to Kelowna?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
We moved here just over 12 years ago, and so brand
new city, didn't know anyone.
Brand new start of life andreeducated myself to become an
optician.
I worked at a few stores as anoptician and then decided to
open my own store and that wasthe next 10 years of my life,
(02:49):
and now I got another 10 yearsthat I'm kind of planning and
adventuring into.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Right, so you are part of the Miss Senior World
Pageant.
Tell us about that.
Tell us what got you into thatand what made you decide to
apply.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So I was.
I was searching for somethingthat after after I retired I was
, I was really busy during theski season.
I had lots to occupy my timethen, but I have trouble sitting
still.
So I was just online searchingfor what I might be good at,
what I would love to do, and Iwas thinking about the days when
(03:33):
I was, you know, early twentiesand in my teens, and I was
modeling and I really loveddoing that, and there was really
nothing out there, for now I'm59.
So I'm basically a senior in theconsermia, a senior woman, and
there was really nothing outthere.
And I I had some negative umageism type comments saying,
(03:54):
well, you're, you're dreaming at59, you know what, 59 year
washed up, you're done, just bean old person.
And I'm like, well, I'm notready to do that.
I think I still can maybe makea difference and be an
inspiration in some way.
So I found this pageant online.
It was the only one that wasopen to women um 50 to 79.
(04:16):
And I applied and I I'm in the50 to 59 category.
So there's three divisions 50to 59, 60 to 69 and 70 to 79.
And so I am Miss Senior WorldCanada in the 50.
Uh, your old division and Iwill be competing in Biloxi,
(04:39):
mississippi, in two months.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Incredible Up the Miss.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Senior World pageant.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Incredible.
Did you get a letter in themail?
I got more than a letter.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I got a crown that sparkles and it's heavy and it's
and I've got I got a sash withactual like sewn satin with
rhinestones, so it's it's prettyimpressive.
They take their pageants prettyseriously down in the US and I
love it.
I want to be a part of this andI'd love to bring it up to
Canada.
I love.
(05:08):
I love that it celebratessenior women and it doesn't.
It isn't revolved around the uh, the beauty of youth, because
there is beauty in age as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And I want to be part of that.
That's incredible.
So you didn't know you wereselected until you got this box.
No, I knew I was selectedbefore that I see, so they
notify you and you got all thisstuff.
Is it um how long?
What can you tell us about thepageant?
Is it something that's beengoing on for a long time?
Are most countries represented?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It's um, so I don't know.
They aren't announcing all ofthe delegates until I think,
about a week from now, that allof the selected um, ladies and
queens from different states anddifferent countries will be up
on their website, but I knowthat it's only this is their
fourth year, so it's fairly new,I think.
Uh, I feel like I'm kind ofgetting in on the ground level
(06:04):
which I love, because that'skind of what I love to do is
build.
Uh, I love to build my business.
I love to be creative, but Ilove to get into new things and
watch them grow and and be apart of developing, um, the kind
of a unique pageantry kind of athing I'm like I'm excited to
(06:24):
be a part of it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Have you been to Biloxi before, or Mississippi?
No, I don't know much about it,but I think it's a city roughly
the size of Kelowna Okay, likea mid-sized city.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
And if it's a world pageant, maybe you could talk to
them and have it in Kelowna inthe future.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Well, I'm thinking too as it grows.
I can see 20 years from nowwill be like a Miss World or
Miss Universe, where it's hugeand all countries are
represented and we'll have tohave a, uh, a preliminary
provincial in Canada and theninter-provincial, so we actually
have contests in each provinceand then in Canada globally that
(07:08):
are maybe even televised andand uh, who knows where it could
go.
Is this?
Speaker 1 (07:13):
is it going to be televised?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It's going to be live streamed and I'm not sure we uh
.
I haven't been notified of howor when or where.
I just know that it's uh, weall compete.
It's on November 3rd and if youmake the top, I think it's 10,
then you go on and youre-compete again on November 4th
.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Right Interesting.
So, uh, is it a two day eventor three days?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
It's it's more like five.
So we get there.
There's events, uh, there'sdinners, there's appearances, Um
, it'll be a really interesting,fun adventure.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Right, well, it sounds super exciting.
Um, are there any platformissues that you're passionate
about that you want to share atthe pageant?
So I guess you're going to haveto get up on stage.
They're going to interview you.
There's different parts of thisevent.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah.
So the interview with the panelof judges counts for 30% of
your mark.
Your evening gown is 30% ofyour mark, your fitness runway
outfit is a 20% of your mark andyour own personal fashion New
York style runway outfit isanother 20% of your mark.
(08:29):
So, as far as the um 30%interview goes, you sit down,
not on stage but off stage, witha panel of judges and they um
ask you questions.
My platform it for this MissSenior World pageant and is
basically my how I got to whereI am in life and the way I live
my life is the power of sayingyes.
(08:50):
So I just say yes to everythingthat I can and usually it turns
out wonderfully and you get newexperiences and you learn about
yourself and you meet new peopleand your life just grows from
there.
And I think it's reallyimportant to keep saying yes to
new opportunities and newexperiences.
Especially, we found out duringCOVID how there was nothing to
(09:12):
say yes to and we were all justsaying there wasn't just a big
prison of no and you just satthere and there was nothing to
do and um, people have found outthat that's not super healthy.
So I think as we age, it's veryeasy to kind of slip into
saying no, I can't do that, Iwon't do that, but I think you
need to just keep pushing, keepsaying yes, keep experiencing
(09:36):
new things and you know what.
If you don't like it, then youlearn something about yourself,
you learn.
You learn what you're not aswell as what you are.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So yeah, Um, so you mentioned there's different
outfits, so it really is abeauty pageant.
And you mentioned there's afitness outfit that you have to
display.
How have you picked all youroutfits yet?
Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I don't, I don't have 100% my gown yet.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I see.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I'm struggling with that one, right, but I have
definitely been working on myfashion outfit I've created it
myself, um and my fitness outfitthey instead of doing like a
bikini.
There is no bathing suit, butyou could if that's what, if you
(10:24):
were a swimmer, and that's howyou stayed fit and you wanted to
wear a bathing suit on stageand model that you know what
good on.
Yet go for it.
I don't, but I can't swim, sothat's not my thing.
Right, I've created a veryCanadian outfit.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
What.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I'm picking ski.
Yes, the ski.
I'm a big skier.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So I have a.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of course it's not going to be like my skis and my
boots, because those won't fitin the overhead bin, but I have
created an outfit that's kind ofan inspired ski look.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I see We'll call it that.
It's really cool because it'sin the Southern us and I think
people that'll be eye catchingfor sure.
And I noticed on your Instagramyou're doing all kinds of
fitness stuff.
Was this something you were?
I know you were a gymnast whenyou were younger and a
cheerleader for the CFL, but isthis something you know since
(11:25):
you've been 40, 50, then you'vekept up with, because I didn't
notice all the fitness videos onyour Instagram before.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Yeah.
So you know, my Instagrambefore was all about the store.
That was my life.
I lived it, I breathed it.
I had to sell glasses.
That was the inspiration behindmy previous social media.
So when I retired, I kind ofhad to start my own Instagram
(11:53):
and it was pretty lame, I wasn'treally posting a lot.
And then I entered this pageantand actually while I was skiing
, a friend of mine she's anonline trainer, she is amazing
she's.
She has this whole programdeveloped.
You just need like bands and acouple of free weights and maybe
a bench and you do it all athome.
And she said Laura, I wouldlike to sponsor you, I want to
(12:16):
give you my fitness program andI want you to do it so that you
look your best for the pageant.
And so part of me is going yeah, I really should, because I you
know, when you work that muchand you own your own business,
it's really hard to keep up withfitness, I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I go for a walk every day.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
But you know, you know I was fit ish.
So I started this strengthtraining program with her and
I've been doing it for aboutfour or five months now and it's
been amazing the changes and Irealize how much I needed it and
how good it's been for me and Ifeel great.
So I'm really thankful to her.
(12:57):
She's been a great sponsor anda good like mentor to me.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
That's really good to hear, because it looks like
you've obviously got aprofessional trainer and some of
the things that you're doing.
I'd like to ask you a little bitabout that, because I go for
regular walks and I don't shyaway from physical activity, but
most of my day I'm stuck in thecar, stuck at my desk, stuck at
(13:22):
a keyboard.
What do you, what do yourecommend for people in their
fifties like to get more inshape?
One of my biggest fears is I'mgoing to take on a program and
it's going to be one more thingthat I got to try to fit into my
schedule.
It's going to be reallydifficult, time consuming.
Is it worth it or is it?
You know, can you do things inincremental ways?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You know that that is something that I used to be
really passionate about and thenI, over my business, and now
since, become more passionateabout and, yes, I believe that I
could take this program thatshe's developed.
Grab my elastic bands, packthem in my suitcase like you can
take them anywhere.
They're just bands and workwith the resistance of those and
(14:06):
whatever.
If you take a 10 minute breakin between editing your podcast
and grabbing a coffee, you know,just do a few, just work a body
part, and then I think you can.
I think you can keep it up.
I think there's a way toincorporate that into your day.
You don't have to spend your,your hour, your solid hour,
working out.
I mean right, and you don'thave to do it every day either.
(14:28):
Yeah, To do it.
Her program is three days aweek.
I do every workout just becauseI have a goal.
I want to look my best, but youdon't have to.
But she does give me a workoutevery day.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Is she filming the videos that you're doing?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
No, no no, I just.
I have a chair and an iPhone.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Oh, you see, well, that's really well done, that's
really, that's really greatInspirational.
So, besides the fitnesstraining, what are some of the
other highlights of your journeytowards this pageant?
I guess clothes shopping, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Clothing is fun, a little bit challenging.
Just for the gown, I haven'tfound one that I just fell in
love with, yet I have.
You know, I have okay gowns,but I don't want to.
Just they'll do.
Yeah, but a couple ofhighlights would be learning to
walk in heels again after morethan probably 15 years of not
(15:25):
wearing high heels.
Yes, that's been challenging.
I broke my foot in July so thatset me back a little bit, so
I've been just starting to healnow and putting my heels on
clocking around the house.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Was it because of heels that you broke your foot?
Speaker 3 (15:39):
No, it's because of patio furniture and being
uncoordinated and clumsy.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
And so it's healed, because we saw you at the
concert and you were wearingheels and you did fine.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I was, I've been, I've been slugging it out.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
It's.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I mean it's feeling a lot better now and then.
The one of the highlights ofthe whole pageant for me so far,
just from my personal point ofview, is the Westside Days
Parade.
When I had a, I was in it andsat on the back of a car and the
reception I got from gosheverybody was remarkable.
(16:18):
I couldn't even stop smiling,my cheeks hurt, waving at
everyone, smiling and sharing,sharing moments with total
strangers that were excited andhappy, and it was very
heartwarming, it was veryencouraging.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Did tell us a little bit about Westside Days.
For people who don't know whatis that.
What is that?
Speaker 3 (16:39):
It's sort of a mini like or or, or fair, and it's
like or stampede.
You know that kind of thing.
It's a West Cologne is versionof uh, you get the parade and
you've got the grants, a littlebit of grandstand music in the
park and the Ferris wheel andthe spinning vomit comet and
(17:00):
whatever else they have.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Yeah, Mini donuts, all that kind of stuff Cool.
So this was a parade and you'rein the back of the convertible.
Yeah, it was it was great.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
And then I got to meet them as Miss Kelowna, lady
of the lake, the float in infront of me and it was uh, yeah,
half my, half my float ended upfalling off the car and onto
the pavement, but I didn't care.
I'm like yeah, this is so great.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Has anybody, um, including Miss Kelowna, uh,
given you advice about this,patch into or been a mentor to
you besides the fitness training?
Um, just tell you you know howto mentally prepare and what to
expect.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I think the current Queens, um, they are.
So I'm online and I there's aspecial, uh, social media area
just for the people that arecompeting and they try and
encourage you, give you tips umwhat they've experienced and and
and things to do.
But there is a lot of onlineinformation that I found.
(18:07):
You know, pageant coaches, andit's it's free.
I mean, you can sign up, butyou can just YouTube it or
there's quite a bit out there.
So I've I've been doing, I'vebeen taking bits and pieces from
that.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, hmm, so is um, what would you say?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
your biggest fear of this pageant is like the high
heels you mentioned and oh,absolutely High heels and a gown
, yeah, yeah, falling on my faceRight.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Like you, you looked fantastic at the concert.
What was that two months ago,month ago?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Is that Chantocraviozic?
Yeah, I don't think I waswearing heels that day.
I think I had sandals on.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, oh, that's great yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I think I probably just had some flip flops.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I thought you had like raised sandals, like heel
sandals, but no, I don't know.
But you said you know yourankle was broken.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I was like really yeah, no, what is my foot?
Yeah, it's out of my foot.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Anyway, did you wear heels a lot when you were
younger.
Like is this something that?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
when I was younger.
Yeah, yeah.
Like 40 years ago.
Right, I see, I wore them allday served waitress.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Do you wear them every day now, and did you get
strength training exercises forthat?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I try to wear them on the treadmill for 10 minutes a
day.
That's fun.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Oh, neat.
Yeah.
So your personal andprofessional background.
What are some of the qualitiesthat you've developed over the
years that you feel prepare youfor this pageant?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
I think, being in the business that I was in, most of
my clientele, or a lot of theclients that came in were women
over 50, that was the base of myeyewear sales and when they
came in I saw that they were.
(20:07):
Many of them were upset.
They were going throughmenopause.
They didn't like the way theylooked.
They didn't like that.
They couldn't see very wellanymore.
They didn't like that.
They were becoming invisible.
They were becoming old and theywere very.
I had women that had meltdownsand we just started with
(20:29):
something small, like finding apair of glasses that made them
feel good, out of their comfortzone a little bit.
I'm trying to push them towardsnot having not just kind of
piling on with the grannyglasses, but try something fun,
try something a little bit bold.
And it was very eye-openingbecause it happened every day.
I'd have these conversationsevery single day with these
(20:51):
women for a decade and it sureenough most of them would come
back two weeks, sometimes thenext day, sometimes two years
later to get a new pair ofglasses and they had changed.
They were people werecomplimenting them, started with
their glasses, so they had anew haircut and then they have
new wardrobe and then they juststarted to say, like my platform
(21:13):
, they just started to say yesto doing more things and
embracing their age because itis beautiful.
These were beautiful women.
They just felt they weren't.
They were just different fromwhen they were young.
So that that beauty of youth,it changes.
It changes for everybody and Ithink we all need to embrace
that, because we're all going toget old and nobody is immune to
(21:37):
that.
If you're lucky, you'll get oldand don't hate yourself for it.
Love yourself for it.
You are, you have theexperiences you have.
You have so much more wisdom.
Life is so good.
My life since I've turned 45till now I'm 59.
Best years of my life.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right, yeah, that's awesome.
Do you think your demographicwas that age group, because our
vision deteriorates so rapidly?
Right, you know, in our fifties?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Is that yeah?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, so that's really interesting.
I know our culture puts such ahuge emphasis on beauty and
youth, especially towardsfemales, and so you saw a lot of
women go through this and startto feel better about themselves
over time.
No-transcript, being aparticipant in the pageant
(22:27):
changed your perspective onaging, or is it just continued
evolution of the same thoughtprocess about you know,
respecting yourself andappreciating your beauty?
Even though we're older, it'sstill beautiful.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, yeah, those wrinkles, you've earned those.
Yeah that you don't.
Things change.
Things aren't as tight, theyaren't as high.
I mean, that's just the way itgoes.
But I think for me I mean I canonly comment up to age 59 and I
want to tell people youngerthan me they're like, oh man,
she's so old.
You know what I'm not?
Well, I am, but it's beencompletely enjoyable.
(23:08):
And what is what I really loveabout the pageant is now I can
have the 69 and 79 year oldsthat are in this pageant and I
can look at them and go, oh man,you're an inspiration for me.
I want to be you in 10, in 20years.
So I love that it's women whoare helping supporting other
(23:29):
women grow into their the agingprocess.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Yeah, that's really great.
Yeah, I've noticed this.
I get older.
There's fewer people that I canlook up to as like an older
person, you know so, and we'vegot to help the younger people
too, right.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
So there's an interview process.
Do you know what the questionsare going to be, or are you
allowed to talk about whateveryou want, like?
How does that?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
go.
No, they don't tell you whatthe questions are.
You are interviewed and youjust need to be prepared for
anything.
I believe is the best mottoRight Be prepared for anything.
Any question?
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Now you do have a bit of a platform, like you're able
to talk about things that areimportant to you.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I assume Absolutely my platform for the pageant is
just say yes, power of sayingyes.
Right, yeah, and keeping yes toyes to working out, yes to
whatever you can do, whateveryour body is physically able to
do, whatever your mind iscapable of, whatever your
experiences are, just kind ofkeep saying yes, don't, don't
stop that into your you knowkind of fourth act of life.
(24:42):
Don't don't just listen to thesocial norms about what old
people are supposed to do andjust sit in rocking chairs and
knit.
But no, is there any wrong withknitting?
You love that?
That's great yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Right?
Is that how you felt when youfound the website or whatever
you found online about thispageant?
Like was it instant?
This is something I need to do.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Yeah, I had that feeling that I this looks really
cool.
I had no idea the depth of whatI was getting into Right.
But now that I'm in it, youknow what I'm committed and I'm
I'm going to try my best.
I want to be an inspiration, Iwant to be inspired and if I can
help anybody, you know, I mean,I'm built a business in my 50s.
(25:29):
So I look back and that waswhen I was young.
But a lot of people are going,wow, that was old.
She was old.
She, you know, designed,dreamed up and built a business
in her 50s and sold it.
So it can be done.
And I just think that's aninspiration for those that are
younger than me and those thatare my age, those that are older
(25:50):
than me.
Well, they're, they're going toinspire me for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Right?
Are you required to attend anyevents or do anything, or just
get ready and show up?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
No, we're um because I I have a title right.
I have to be actively out there.
Um, and it's not requiredevents Like they don't tell us
what to do.
We have to be involved in thecommunity and I've always been
involved in the community, sothis is super fun and easy for
me.
I'm out there anyways.
(26:20):
Yeah, I love talking to otherpeople promoting other
businesses, especially just withthe fires.
Like I, I have so much in myhead right now about how many
people have helped our communitywith food and volunteering.
There's so much that I wouldlike to shout out to the world
about what a great communityspirit and and just being
(26:44):
involved with the salvation armyand working through the
disaster.
It's just incredible.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
So today is August 27th.
For those listening today,there's still quite a few people
in need of help.
Um, I think it was 150 homeswere destroyed.
I'm not sure exactly that.
There's probably quite a quitea lot more that were badly
damaged, like we.
This is totally unrelated, butthere was a car accident just a
(27:12):
few blocks away and a truck wentinto someone's townhouse and
they couldn't get inside for acouple of months.
So, and having lived throughthe hurricane in 2004 in the
Cayman Islands like there wereareas where you just couldn't go
, even if it was your stuff,your home, um, they just
wouldn't let you in for a long,long time.
So is there anything listenerscould do to help out?
(27:36):
Is it salvation army or isthere a need that people could?
Speaker 3 (27:42):
take care of.
I mean, find a charity If youhave a little bit extra money
and donate some some money tothe relief fund might know,
mamas for mamas was huge.
The salvation army disasterrelief is what I was
volunteering for.
We were cooking meals notcooking but serving meals to
firefighters and evacuees andlocal commercial oven and chefs
(28:07):
were making hundreds of, notthousands of meals.
It was incredible theparticipation.
But just if you have time,donate your time.
If you have clothes that youdon't need to donate, if you
like, whatever you can do,there's a lot of the Red Cross.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Um, you know, I don't know there's so much out there,
there's just help, right?
Yeah, I really liked that ideaof donating time.
I did it, uh, years ago when Ididn't have any money, but it
feels so, it really feels goodto be able to help and everybody
(28:43):
can donate a little bit of time100% and same.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
when I was starting up my business, I didn't have
any money.
Everything was invested in thebusiness Every penny I had.
But I had a little bit of timeand that felt great.
I donated time to just certaincharities that I felt passionate
about and and you help them.
They need people.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Yeah, absolutely.
So what does your schedule looklike between now, august 27th,
and November, when you're flyingto Biloxi?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Oh, you know, I just um getting into kind of a
different mindset, reviewingdifferent questions in my head,
um, I don't know.
Practicing heels walking inheels, trying not to be clumsy
and hurt myself again.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Right and uh, do you have any events that you have to
take care of between now andthen?
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I have, Um, I have one fun one coming up.
Um, you know, I'm going to do alot of local shouting out to
some people that have helpedthrough the fires, but I have a
fun football game that I'mattending.
Um, uh, coming up here and Ican't remember the date.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Okay, We'll.
We'll post it in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Yeah, that would be great.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
So what's happening at the game?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
I'll just be there and it's.
The firefighters will be thereand I'll be just a fun football
game.
I'll be probably helping outwith 50, 50 here, right, and
I'll be able to get tickets orsomething like that yeah, cool,
super cool.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
So um, is there anybody would like to nominate
to come on the show?
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Uh, if I um thinking probably my trainer, tish Duffy.
She's so incredible, Um, shewould be great, uh, or wealth
management um financial team.
They have been just sofinancially supportive because
pageants are not cheap, right Umand um, you know.
(30:47):
The other sponsor that hashelped me is Jenny McKinney.
She's a local makeup artist andshe's giving me some lessons on
how to prepare my face for thestage.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
So I think if I had to pick three people, those
would be the top three.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Is uh?
Is the makeup very differentfor a pageant than what you
would normally do if you werehaving?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
a night out, oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
So it's a very fancy dinner where you're fully
dressed up like it's different,totally different.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
because you have your , you have to be seen from far
away.
So if you just do somethingbeautiful and subtle, nobody's
going to see you.
So you have to have quite theface on quite a bit of makeup,
bagel, ashes, the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's a real science to that to be seen from a
distance right.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
But still look good and not clownish.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Yeah Right, jay Leno saying they went to high
definition television I think itwas like 30 years ago and he
said they had to redo all themakeup because when the those
TVs came out it looked liketotal cake and they had to
reconceive all the differentthings that they applied.
(31:59):
So you still have to, you know,stand out, but a little less
thick.
So, yeah, those are some greatnominations, so we'll get.
We'll get in touch with themand see if they're interested in
coming on the show.
We want to wish you all thebest for the pageant.
We're going to be following you, so Instagram is the best place
(32:20):
to.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Instagram is my my go to.
Yeah, I play around with TikTok and everything that I post
on Instagram on my mat, so justall goes to Facebook as well,
but Instagram's a place for me.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Okay, so we will follow you there and all the
best of luck for for the pageant.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Thank you, luke, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Great to see you, thank you.
This is episode 241 of the I Love Kelowna podcast,
and today I am here with LauraDrake Gott.
She is a former chiropractor, aretired optician.
Here in Kelowna, she's acommunity volunteer and she's
done various fundraisers,including Powderhounds Adaptive
Ski Program.
(00:23):
She was born in Hamilton,raised in Calgary, and in her
youth she was a competitivegymnast, a dancer, a model and a
CFL cheerleader.
And today we're going to talkall about 2023, miss Senior
World Canada, a pageant thatLaura is involved in.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Kelowna, one of the most beautiful places in the
world to live, surrounded byprovincial parks, pine forests,
vineyards, orchards andmountains.
Wouldn't it be great if therewas a podcast about our love of
Kelowna?
Oh no, it's real.
This is I Love Kelowna aninterview style podcast about
(01:10):
the fabulous and fascinatingpeople that make up our great
city and the Okanagan.
Intimate conversations withentrepreneurs, executives,
thought leaders, creatives andanyone who has an interesting
story to tell about how they'recontributing to our wonderful
home.
This is I Love Kelowna.
And here's your host, luke JMinkus.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Laura, it's great to see you.
It's been a little over fiveyears since you were on the show
.
It was 2018, july 2018, andthat was episode 14.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Wow, and this is episode 241.
Oh, almost 214, almost 200.
Right, yeah.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Crazy.
Well have you been.
I've seen you a couple of timessince then.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Life is really good, I think.
Back then I was.
I had a business, an eyeglassesstore, and was working there.
I've since sold that andretired and now I'm on a new
adventure.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Nice, so I know you were born in Hamilton, grew up
in Calgary.
When did you move to Kelowna?
Speaker 3 (02:25):
We moved here just over 12 years ago, and so brand
new city, didn't know anyone.
Brand new start of life andreeducated myself to become an
optician.
I worked at a few stores as anoptician and then decided to
open my own store and that wasthe next 10 years of my life,
(02:49):
and now I got another 10 yearsthat I'm kind of planning and
adventuring into.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Right, so you are part of the Miss Senior World
Pageant.
Tell us about that.
Tell us what got you into thatand what made you decide to
apply.
Speaker 3 (03:11):
So I was.
I was searching for somethingthat after after I retired I was
, I was really busy during theski season.
I had lots to occupy my timethen, but I have trouble sitting
still.
So I was just online searchingfor what I might be good at,
what I would love to do, and Iwas thinking about the days when
(03:33):
I was, you know, early twentiesand in my teens, and I was
modeling and I really loveddoing that, and there was really
nothing out there, for now I'm59.
So I'm basically a senior in theconsermia, a senior woman, and
there was really nothing outthere.
And I I had some negative umageism type comments saying,
(03:54):
well, you're, you're dreaming at59, you know what, 59 year
washed up, you're done, just bean old person.
And I'm like, well, I'm notready to do that.
I think I still can maybe makea difference and be an
inspiration in some way.
So I found this pageant online.
It was the only one that wasopen to women um 50 to 79.
(04:16):
And I applied and I I'm in the50 to 59 category.
So there's three divisions 50to 59, 60 to 69 and 70 to 79.
And so I am Miss Senior WorldCanada in the 50.
Uh, your old division and Iwill be competing in Biloxi,
(04:39):
mississippi, in two months.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
Incredible Up the Miss.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Senior World pageant.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Incredible.
Did you get a letter in themail?
I got more than a letter.
Speaker 3 (04:48):
I got a crown that sparkles and it's heavy and it's
and I've got I got a sash withactual like sewn satin with
rhinestones, so it's it's prettyimpressive.
They take their pageants prettyseriously down in the US and I
love it.
I want to be a part of this andI'd love to bring it up to
Canada.
I love.
(05:08):
I love that it celebratessenior women and it doesn't.
It isn't revolved around the uh, the beauty of youth, because
there is beauty in age as well.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
And I want to be part of that.
That's incredible.
So you didn't know you wereselected until you got this box.
No, I knew I was selectedbefore that I see, so they
notify you and you got all thisstuff.
Is it um how long?
What can you tell us about thepageant?
Is it something that's beengoing on for a long time?
Are most countries represented?
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It's um, so I don't know.
They aren't announcing all ofthe delegates until I think,
about a week from now, that allof the selected um, ladies and
queens from different states anddifferent countries will be up
on their website, but I knowthat it's only this is their
fourth year, so it's fairly new,I think.
Uh, I feel like I'm kind ofgetting in on the ground level
(06:04):
which I love, because that'skind of what I love to do is
build.
Uh, I love to build my business.
I love to be creative, but Ilove to get into new things and
watch them grow and and be apart of developing, um, the kind
of a unique pageantry kind of athing I'm like I'm excited to
(06:24):
be a part of it, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
Have you been to Biloxi before, or Mississippi?
No, I don't know much about it,but I think it's a city roughly
the size of Kelowna Okay, likea mid-sized city.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
And if it's a world pageant, maybe you could talk to
them and have it in Kelowna inthe future.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
Well, I'm thinking too as it grows.
I can see 20 years from nowwill be like a Miss World or
Miss Universe, where it's hugeand all countries are
represented and we'll have tohave a, uh, a preliminary
provincial in Canada and theninter-provincial, so we actually
have contests in each provinceand then in Canada globally that
(07:08):
are maybe even televised andand uh, who knows where it could
go.
Is this?
Speaker 1 (07:13):
is it going to be televised?
Speaker 3 (07:16):
It's going to be live streamed and I'm not sure we uh
.
I haven't been notified of howor when or where.
I just know that it's uh, weall compete.
It's on November 3rd and if youmake the top, I think it's 10,
then you go on and youre-compete again on November 4th
.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
Right Interesting.
So, uh, is it a two day eventor three days?
Speaker 3 (07:40):
It's it's more like five.
So we get there.
There's events, uh, there'sdinners, there's appearances, Um
, it'll be a really interesting,fun adventure.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Right, well, it sounds super exciting.
Um, are there any platformissues that you're passionate
about that you want to share atthe pageant?
So I guess you're going to haveto get up on stage.
They're going to interview you.
There's different parts of thisevent.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah.
So the interview with the panelof judges counts for 30% of
your mark.
Your evening gown is 30% ofyour mark, your fitness runway
outfit is a 20% of your mark andyour own personal fashion New
York style runway outfit isanother 20% of your mark.
(08:29):
So, as far as the um 30%interview goes, you sit down,
not on stage but off stage, witha panel of judges and they um
ask you questions.
My platform it for this MissSenior World pageant and is
basically my how I got to whereI am in life and the way I live
my life is the power of sayingyes.
(08:50):
So I just say yes to everythingthat I can and usually it turns
out wonderfully and you get newexperiences and you learn about
yourself and you meet new peopleand your life just grows from
there.
And I think it's reallyimportant to keep saying yes to
new opportunities and newexperiences.
Especially, we found out duringCOVID how there was nothing to
(09:12):
say yes to and we were all justsaying there wasn't just a big
prison of no and you just satthere and there was nothing to
do and um, people have found outthat that's not super healthy.
So I think as we age, it's veryeasy to kind of slip into
saying no, I can't do that, Iwon't do that, but I think you
need to just keep pushing, keepsaying yes, keep experiencing
(09:36):
new things and you know what.
If you don't like it, then youlearn something about yourself,
you learn.
You learn what you're not aswell as what you are.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
So yeah, Um, so you mentioned there's different
outfits, so it really is abeauty pageant.
And you mentioned there's afitness outfit that you have to
display.
How have you picked all youroutfits yet?
Yeah, 100%.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I don't, I don't have 100% my gown yet.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I see.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I'm struggling with that one, right, but I have
definitely been working on myfashion outfit I've created it
myself, um and my fitness outfitthey instead of doing like a
bikini.
There is no bathing suit, butyou could if that's what, if you
(10:24):
were a swimmer, and that's howyou stayed fit and you wanted to
wear a bathing suit on stageand model that you know what
good on.
Yet go for it.
I don't, but I can't swim, sothat's not my thing.
Right, I've created a veryCanadian outfit.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
What.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I'm picking ski.
Yes, the ski.
I'm a big skier.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
So I have a.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Of course it's not going to be like my skis and my
boots, because those won't fitin the overhead bin, but I have
created an outfit that's kind ofan inspired ski look.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I see We'll call it that.
It's really cool because it'sin the Southern us and I think
people that'll be eye catchingfor sure.
And I noticed on your Instagramyou're doing all kinds of
fitness stuff.
Was this something you were?
I know you were a gymnast whenyou were younger and a
cheerleader for the CFL, but isthis something you know since
(11:25):
you've been 40, 50, then you'vekept up with, because I didn't
notice all the fitness videos onyour Instagram before.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
Yeah.
So you know, my Instagrambefore was all about the store.
That was my life.
I lived it, I breathed it.
I had to sell glasses.
That was the inspiration behindmy previous social media.
So when I retired, I kind ofhad to start my own Instagram
(11:53):
and it was pretty lame, I wasn'treally posting a lot.
And then I entered this pageantand actually while I was skiing
, a friend of mine she's anonline trainer, she is amazing
she's.
She has this whole programdeveloped.
You just need like bands and acouple of free weights and maybe
a bench and you do it all athome.
And she said Laura, I wouldlike to sponsor you, I want to
(12:16):
give you my fitness program andI want you to do it so that you
look your best for the pageant.
And so part of me is going yeah, I really should, because I you
know, when you work that muchand you own your own business,
it's really hard to keep up withfitness, I mean.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
I go for a walk every day.
Speaker 3 (12:34):
But you know, you know I was fit ish.
So I started this strengthtraining program with her and
I've been doing it for aboutfour or five months now and it's
been amazing the changes and Irealize how much I needed it and
how good it's been for me and Ifeel great.
So I'm really thankful to her.
(12:57):
She's been a great sponsor anda good like mentor to me.
Speaker 1 (13:01):
That's really good to hear, because it looks like
you've obviously got aprofessional trainer and some of
the things that you're doing.
I'd like to ask you a little bitabout that, because I go for
regular walks and I don't shyaway from physical activity, but
most of my day I'm stuck in thecar, stuck at my desk, stuck at
(13:22):
a keyboard.
What do you, what do yourecommend for people in their
fifties like to get more inshape?
One of my biggest fears is I'mgoing to take on a program and
it's going to be one more thingthat I got to try to fit into my
schedule.
It's going to be reallydifficult, time consuming.
Is it worth it or is it?
You know, can you do things inincremental ways?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
You know that that is something that I used to be
really passionate about and thenI, over my business, and now
since, become more passionateabout and, yes, I believe that I
could take this program thatshe's developed.
Grab my elastic bands, packthem in my suitcase like you can
take them anywhere.
They're just bands and workwith the resistance of those and
(14:06):
whatever.
If you take a 10 minute breakin between editing your podcast
and grabbing a coffee, you know,just do a few, just work a body
part, and then I think you can.
I think you can keep it up.
I think there's a way toincorporate that into your day.
You don't have to spend your,your hour, your solid hour,
working out.
I mean right, and you don'thave to do it every day either.
(14:28):
Yeah, To do it.
Her program is three days aweek.
I do every workout just becauseI have a goal.
I want to look my best, but youdon't have to.
But she does give me a workoutevery day.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Is she filming the videos that you're doing?
Speaker 3 (14:43):
No, no no, I just.
I have a chair and an iPhone.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Oh, you see, well, that's really well done, that's
really, that's really greatInspirational.
So, besides the fitnesstraining, what are some of the
other highlights of your journeytowards this pageant?
I guess clothes shopping, yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Clothing is fun, a little bit challenging.
Just for the gown, I haven'tfound one that I just fell in
love with, yet I have.
You know, I have okay gowns,but I don't want to.
Just they'll do.
Yeah, but a couple ofhighlights would be learning to
walk in heels again after morethan probably 15 years of not
(15:25):
wearing high heels.
Yes, that's been challenging.
I broke my foot in July so thatset me back a little bit, so
I've been just starting to healnow and putting my heels on
clocking around the house.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Was it because of heels that you broke your foot?
Speaker 3 (15:39):
No, it's because of patio furniture and being
uncoordinated and clumsy.
Speaker 1 (15:47):
And so it's healed, because we saw you at the
concert and you were wearingheels and you did fine.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I was, I've been, I've been slugging it out.
Speaker 1 (15:56):
It's.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
I mean it's feeling a lot better now and then.
The one of the highlights ofthe whole pageant for me so far,
just from my personal point ofview, is the Westside Days
Parade.
When I had a, I was in it andsat on the back of a car and the
reception I got from gosheverybody was remarkable.
(16:18):
I couldn't even stop smiling,my cheeks hurt, waving at
everyone, smiling and sharing,sharing moments with total
strangers that were excited andhappy, and it was very
heartwarming, it was veryencouraging.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Did tell us a little bit about Westside Days.
For people who don't know whatis that.
What is that?
Speaker 3 (16:39):
It's sort of a mini like or or, or fair, and it's
like or stampede.
You know that kind of thing.
It's a West Cologne is versionof uh, you get the parade and
you've got the grants, a littlebit of grandstand music in the
park and the Ferris wheel andthe spinning vomit comet and
(17:00):
whatever else they have.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
Yeah, Mini donuts, all that kind of stuff Cool.
So this was a parade and you'rein the back of the convertible.
Yeah, it was it was great.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
And then I got to meet them as Miss Kelowna, lady
of the lake, the float in infront of me and it was uh, yeah,
half my, half my float ended upfalling off the car and onto
the pavement, but I didn't care.
I'm like yeah, this is so great.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Has anybody, um, including Miss Kelowna, uh,
given you advice about this,patch into or been a mentor to
you besides the fitness training?
Um, just tell you you know howto mentally prepare and what to
expect.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
I think the current Queens, um, they are.
So I'm online and I there's aspecial, uh, social media area
just for the people that arecompeting and they try and
encourage you, give you tips umwhat they've experienced and and
and things to do.
But there is a lot of onlineinformation that I found.
(18:07):
You know, pageant coaches, andit's it's free.
I mean, you can sign up, butyou can just YouTube it or
there's quite a bit out there.
So I've I've been doing, I'vebeen taking bits and pieces from
that.
Speaker 1 (18:21):
Yeah, hmm, so is um, what would you say?
Speaker 3 (18:26):
your biggest fear of this pageant is like the high
heels you mentioned and oh,absolutely High heels and a gown
, yeah, yeah, falling on my faceRight.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Like you, you looked fantastic at the concert.
What was that two months ago,month ago?
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Is that Chantocraviozic?
Yeah, I don't think I waswearing heels that day.
I think I had sandals on.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Yeah, oh, that's great yeah.
Speaker 3 (18:54):
I think I probably just had some flip flops.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
I thought you had like raised sandals, like heel
sandals, but no, I don't know.
But you said you know yourankle was broken.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
I was like really yeah, no, what is my foot?
Yeah, it's out of my foot.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Anyway, did you wear heels a lot when you were
younger.
Like is this something that?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
when I was younger.
Yeah, yeah.
Like 40 years ago.
Right, I see, I wore them allday served waitress.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Do you wear them every day now, and did you get
strength training exercises forthat?
Speaker 3 (19:25):
I try to wear them on the treadmill for 10 minutes a
day.
That's fun.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Oh, neat.
Yeah.
So your personal andprofessional background.
What are some of the qualitiesthat you've developed over the
years that you feel prepare youfor this pageant?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
I think, being in the business that I was in, most of
my clientele, or a lot of theclients that came in were women
over 50, that was the base of myeyewear sales and when they
came in I saw that they were.
(20:07):
Many of them were upset.
They were going throughmenopause.
They didn't like the way theylooked.
They didn't like that.
They couldn't see very wellanymore.
They didn't like that.
They were becoming invisible.
They were becoming old and theywere very.
I had women that had meltdownsand we just started with
(20:29):
something small, like finding apair of glasses that made them
feel good, out of their comfortzone a little bit.
I'm trying to push them towardsnot having not just kind of
piling on with the grannyglasses, but try something fun,
try something a little bit bold.
And it was very eye-openingbecause it happened every day.
I'd have these conversationsevery single day with these
(20:51):
women for a decade and it sureenough most of them would come
back two weeks, sometimes thenext day, sometimes two years
later to get a new pair ofglasses and they had changed.
They were people werecomplimenting them, started with
their glasses, so they had anew haircut and then they have
new wardrobe and then they juststarted to say, like my platform
(21:13):
, they just started to say yesto doing more things and
embracing their age because itis beautiful.
These were beautiful women.
They just felt they weren't.
They were just different fromwhen they were young.
So that that beauty of youth,it changes.
It changes for everybody and Ithink we all need to embrace
that, because we're all going toget old and nobody is immune to
(21:37):
that.
If you're lucky, you'll get oldand don't hate yourself for it.
Love yourself for it.
You are, you have theexperiences you have.
You have so much more wisdom.
Life is so good.
My life since I've turned 45till now I'm 59.
Best years of my life.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right, yeah, that's awesome.
Do you think your demographicwas that age group, because our
vision deteriorates so rapidly?
Right, you know, in our fifties?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
Is that yeah?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
Yeah, so that's really interesting.
I know our culture puts such ahuge emphasis on beauty and
youth, especially towardsfemales, and so you saw a lot of
women go through this and startto feel better about themselves
over time.
No-transcript, being aparticipant in the pageant
(22:27):
changed your perspective onaging, or is it just continued
evolution of the same thoughtprocess about you know,
respecting yourself andappreciating your beauty?
Even though we're older, it'sstill beautiful.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
Yeah, yeah, those wrinkles, you've earned those.
Yeah that you don't.
Things change.
Things aren't as tight, theyaren't as high.
I mean, that's just the way itgoes.
But I think for me I mean I canonly comment up to age 59 and I
want to tell people youngerthan me they're like, oh man,
she's so old.
You know what I'm not?
Well, I am, but it's beencompletely enjoyable.
(23:08):
And what is what I really loveabout the pageant is now I can
have the 69 and 79 year oldsthat are in this pageant and I
can look at them and go, oh man,you're an inspiration for me.
I want to be you in 10, in 20years.
So I love that it's women whoare helping supporting other
(23:29):
women grow into their the agingprocess.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Yeah, that's really great.
Yeah, I've noticed this.
I get older.
There's fewer people that I canlook up to as like an older
person, you know so, and we'vegot to help the younger people
too, right.
Speaker 3 (23:47):
Right.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
So there's an interview process.
Do you know what the questionsare going to be, or are you
allowed to talk about whateveryou want, like?
How does that?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
go.
No, they don't tell you whatthe questions are.
You are interviewed and youjust need to be prepared for
anything.
I believe is the best mottoRight Be prepared for anything.
Any question?
Speaker 1 (24:11):
Now you do have a bit of a platform, like you're able
to talk about things that areimportant to you.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
I assume Absolutely my platform for the pageant is
just say yes, power of sayingyes.
Right, yeah, and keeping yes toyes to working out, yes to
whatever you can do, whateveryour body is physically able to
do, whatever your mind iscapable of, whatever your
experiences are, just kind ofkeep saying yes, don't, don't
stop that into your you knowkind of fourth act of life.
(24:42):
Don't don't just listen to thesocial norms about what old
people are supposed to do andjust sit in rocking chairs and
knit.
But no, is there any wrong withknitting?
You love that?
That's great yeah.
Speaker 1 (24:55):
Right?
Is that how you felt when youfound the website or whatever
you found online about thispageant?
Like was it instant?
This is something I need to do.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Yeah, I had that feeling that I this looks really
cool.
I had no idea the depth of whatI was getting into Right.
But now that I'm in it, youknow what I'm committed and I'm
I'm going to try my best.
I want to be an inspiration, Iwant to be inspired and if I can
help anybody, you know, I mean,I'm built a business in my 50s.
(25:29):
So I look back and that waswhen I was young.
But a lot of people are going,wow, that was old.
She was old.
She, you know, designed,dreamed up and built a business
in her 50s and sold it.
So it can be done.
And I just think that's aninspiration for those that are
younger than me and those thatare my age, those that are older
(25:50):
than me.
Well, they're, they're going toinspire me for sure.
Speaker 1 (25:52):
Right?
Are you required to attend anyevents or do anything, or just
get ready and show up?
Speaker 3 (26:00):
No, we're um because I I have a title right.
I have to be actively out there.
Um, and it's not requiredevents Like they don't tell us
what to do.
We have to be involved in thecommunity and I've always been
involved in the community, sothis is super fun and easy for
me.
I'm out there anyways.
(26:20):
Yeah, I love talking to otherpeople promoting other
businesses, especially just withthe fires.
Like I, I have so much in myhead right now about how many
people have helped our communitywith food and volunteering.
There's so much that I wouldlike to shout out to the world
about what a great communityspirit and and just being
(26:44):
involved with the salvation armyand working through the
disaster.
It's just incredible.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
So today is August 27th.
For those listening today,there's still quite a few people
in need of help.
Um, I think it was 150 homeswere destroyed.
I'm not sure exactly that.
There's probably quite a quitea lot more that were badly
damaged, like we.
This is totally unrelated, butthere was a car accident just a
(27:12):
few blocks away and a truck wentinto someone's townhouse and
they couldn't get inside for acouple of months.
So, and having lived throughthe hurricane in 2004 in the
Cayman Islands like there wereareas where you just couldn't go
, even if it was your stuff,your home, um, they just
wouldn't let you in for a long,long time.
So is there anything listenerscould do to help out?
(27:36):
Is it salvation army or isthere a need that people could?
Speaker 3 (27:42):
take care of.
I mean, find a charity If youhave a little bit extra money
and donate some some money tothe relief fund might know,
mamas for mamas was huge.
The salvation army disasterrelief is what I was
volunteering for.
We were cooking meals notcooking but serving meals to
firefighters and evacuees andlocal commercial oven and chefs
(28:07):
were making hundreds of, notthousands of meals.
It was incredible theparticipation.
But just if you have time,donate your time.
If you have clothes that youdon't need to donate, if you
like, whatever you can do,there's a lot of the Red Cross.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Um, you know, I don't know there's so much out there,
there's just help, right?
Yeah, I really liked that ideaof donating time.
I did it, uh, years ago when Ididn't have any money, but it
feels so, it really feels goodto be able to help and everybody
(28:43):
can donate a little bit of time100% and same.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
when I was starting up my business, I didn't have
any money.
Everything was invested in thebusiness Every penny I had.
But I had a little bit of timeand that felt great.
I donated time to just certaincharities that I felt passionate
about and and you help them.
They need people.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Yeah, absolutely.
So what does your schedule looklike between now, august 27th,
and November, when you're flyingto Biloxi?
Speaker 3 (29:17):
Oh, you know, I just um getting into kind of a
different mindset, reviewingdifferent questions in my head,
um, I don't know.
Practicing heels walking inheels, trying not to be clumsy
and hurt myself again.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Right and uh, do you have any events that you have to
take care of between now andthen?
Speaker 3 (29:42):
I have, Um, I have one fun one coming up.
Um, you know, I'm going to do alot of local shouting out to
some people that have helpedthrough the fires, but I have a
fun football game that I'mattending.
Um, uh, coming up here and Ican't remember the date.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Okay, We'll.
We'll post it in the show notes.
Speaker 3 (30:02):
Yeah, that would be great.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
So what's happening at the game?
Speaker 3 (30:06):
I'll just be there and it's.
The firefighters will be thereand I'll be just a fun football
game.
I'll be probably helping outwith 50, 50 here, right, and
I'll be able to get tickets orsomething like that yeah, cool,
super cool.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
So um, is there anybody would like to nominate
to come on the show?
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Uh, if I um thinking probably my trainer, tish Duffy.
She's so incredible, Um, shewould be great, uh, or wealth
management um financial team.
They have been just sofinancially supportive because
pageants are not cheap, right Umand um, you know.
(30:47):
The other sponsor that hashelped me is Jenny McKinney.
She's a local makeup artist andshe's giving me some lessons on
how to prepare my face for thestage.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (30:59):
So I think if I had to pick three people, those
would be the top three.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Is uh?
Is the makeup very differentfor a pageant than what you
would normally do if you werehaving?
Speaker 3 (31:09):
a night out, oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:12):
So it's a very fancy dinner where you're fully
dressed up like it's different,totally different.
Speaker 3 (31:16):
because you have your , you have to be seen from far
away.
So if you just do somethingbeautiful and subtle, nobody's
going to see you.
So you have to have quite theface on quite a bit of makeup,
bagel, ashes, the whole thing.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
That's a real science to that to be seen from a
distance right.
Speaker 3 (31:35):
But still look good and not clownish.
Speaker 1 (31:37):
Yeah Right, jay Leno saying they went to high
definition television I think itwas like 30 years ago and he
said they had to redo all themakeup because when the those
TVs came out it looked liketotal cake and they had to
reconceive all the differentthings that they applied.
(31:59):
So you still have to, you know,stand out, but a little less
thick.
So, yeah, those are some greatnominations, so we'll get.
We'll get in touch with themand see if they're interested in
coming on the show.
We want to wish you all thebest for the pageant.
We're going to be following you, so Instagram is the best place
(32:20):
to.
Speaker 3 (32:20):
Instagram is my my go to.
Yeah, I play around with TikTok and everything that I post
on Instagram on my mat, so justall goes to Facebook as well,
but Instagram's a place for me.
Speaker 1 (32:31):
Okay, so we will follow you there and all the
best of luck for for the pageant.
Speaker 3 (32:36):
Thank you, luke, thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (32:38):
Great to see you, thank you.
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