Local teen, Ayden Kosko is looking to encourage young girls to be confident after winning a national beauty pageant. The 15-year old won Miss Teen Canada Petite in Toronto last week and is hoping to share her experience with others.
Kosko currently attends Holy Rosary High School and has been asked to talk to classes, specifically young girls at St. Thomas elementary school about the importance of self-confidence.
“Just talk about confidence and to be themselves and be comfortable in their own skin”
She says her experience with pageants has helped her break out of her shell.
“I was so shy, I wouldn’t talk to anyone, but since I started pageants about a year ago everything has changed. From this pageant public speaking and everything has grown so much.”
With her title, she also plans on raising awareness about brain injuries and concussions after a freak accident that resulted in the teen having a concussion for three months. The 15-year old says she fell off a chair and hit her head on concrete last December that sent her to see specialists in Red Deer.
“I’ve visited the L.A.B.I.S [Lloydminster and Area Brain Injury Society] centre here and I’ve associated with some of the patients, I’ve talked with them and I just want to bring awareness to it.”
Kosko says after visiting the centre she realized that brain injuries are a really big issue and after going through one herself she wants to help others through the process.