Samantha Budden isn’t one to shy away from a challenge.
In addition to achieving bronze and silver level Duke of Edinburgh Awards and winning a national Girl Guides of Canada essay contest, the 16-year-old is also an accomplished figure skater, saxophonist, vocalist and piano player.
Her high school grades are in the 90s and she regularly volunteers with various community groups.
“When she sets her mind to something, that’s it, she’s going to do it,” says her mom, Marie.
Samantha has visited various points throughout Canada, the US and Mexico and is travelling to New York this spring with the Stephenville High School Concert Band and to Spain this summer as a member of a World Youth Team.
But before she packs her bags to go abroad, Samantha has another trip planned. She’s heading to St. John’s next week to compete in the Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador Pageant.
“I knew about it for a couple of years, but I never really thought about entering until one of my friends entered last year,” she says. “Then I thought about it and realized I could do it too.”
“This isn’t something that I’ve ever done before, so I’m really excited.” - Samantha Budden
She’s looking forward to meeting the 19 other contestants while enjoying activities planned by pageant organizers during the four-day event.
“This isn’t something that I’ve ever done before,” says Samantha, “so I’m really excited.”
The Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador website lists a $1,500 academic scholarship as one of the main prizes for the young lady who wins the pageant.
While Samantha hasn’t yet decided on an exact field of post-secondary study, she has an interest in primary education.
Samantha is the sole pageant contestant this year from the Bay St. George region and both she and her mom hope area residents will help her win the pageant’s People’s Choice Award. Emails for the honour can be sent daily to peopleschoice2011 nfpageants.net, with Samantha’s name in the subject line.
