When I did Miss BC in 2013, I went through the jewelry I had (which wasn’t much) and even though it was unrelated to what I would be wearing, I felt like I was supposed to bring the bracelet I got from Project AK-47, which through pictures tells the story of the life of a rescued child soldier. Little did I know I would meet this incredible woman, whose platform was rehabilitating child soldiers, because she’d seen first hand the painful effects of being forced into war, as her partner Fazineh Keita had gone through it. 
I gave her that bracelet, and then part of my heart as I saw what a kind, genuine, beautiful person she was 
She was my Miss Congeniality, and my choice for Miss Heart and Soul, as she shared her heart so freely and vulnerably with us 
I heard the former title holders share about how they had made friends over their pageant weekend that have lasted their life times, that they would come back year after year to help out together, and I dreamed that we could have a friendship like as well.
I am so grateful that this weekend my dream came true!
How amazing is it that it wasn’t until 2 years later that I got a crown, and then another 2 years when I’d finished my titleholder responsibilities we were able to come back for the 15 year reunion, and spend the weekend doing things together behind the scenes 
You are a woman of such integrity. It’s so awesome how your platform wasn’t something you just said at the pageant in 2013, but you actually went on to start the Innocence Lost FoundationCharity, which has raised over $66,380 – enough to buy land, build wells and get solar panels for the Kabala Community Centre project in Sierra Leone, a place that will provide former child soldiers access to food and water, art and sport therapy, counselling, skills training and education to create jobs, and provide resources to further the country and people there.
It’s also so sweet how at first Women’s Rights was part of your platform as well, how we could be so different, and yet so loving and supportive of each other 
Thank you for asking questions and listening, for walking with me in my journey with my son, for really being such a true and loyal friend. You exemplify what the Miss, Mrs. and Miss Teen BC Pageant is all about. Thank you, and the others who worked so hard this weekend for your humble service, giving back to the community, and letting people shine!
Thank You Jesus, for making my dreams come true!
And happiest of birthdays to you Ava Vanderstarren, my beautiful friend 
Hope Fazineh gets you all the things you wanted today! Lol – I learned from the internet how to splice photos together and put text on them for you today 
Love you! 
