Danielle Beattie truly shows that beauty is much more than skin deep.
She’s been an active volunteer since childhood, launched a local chapter of ‘I Am That Girl’ to help young girls find their footing, and joined her grandmother as a Beaver Valley Lions Club member three years ago.
Now the Fruitvale native is ready to take that local drive to the provincial stage by running for the 2016 Miss BC title.
“I guess this all started in 2009, I was part of the Trail Ambassador Program,” says Beattie, 24. “I didn’t get a title but I learned so much throughout that program and actually got to travel with the girls a few times … since then I started a local chapter of ‘I Am That Girl’ and as a co-leader that’s given me a huge platform in the world of women empowerment,” she added. “And that’s my platform when I go to the pageant, because ‘I Am That Girl’ is all about collaboration over competition.”
And yes, winning the Miss BC sash does involves a beauty pageant of sorts.
Beattie will head to the coast July 1 to July 3 for 12-hour days focused on modelling, etiquette, choreography and final interview training as well as workshops centred on self esteem and assertiveness. There’s even a session by a Martial Arts expert to help contestants develop self defense skills.
But at the forefront of the competition, and something Beattie has been participating in for months, is a large scale group fundraiser for cancer research and caring support programs.
“I am very passionate about volunteering and giving back to those around me,” Beattie said. “So when I found out about the Miss BC program, it really caught my eye because it’s really about charity, the whole pageant is a fundraiser for Cops for Cancer.”
With only weeks left to fundraise before Miss BC is crowned July 3, Beattie, sponsored by the Beaver Valley Lions, has come up with some inventive ways to ask for community donations.
She’s done the traditional bake sales and made accessories like purses and scarves to sell.
Most recently, however, she came up with a golden idea - one that literally helps flush away cancer.
All it took was three toilets, spray paint and some muscle to carry out the plan.
Beattie embellished a trio of toilets in gold then set them in the front yards of unsuspecting homeowners in the darkness of night - when the person discovered the throne the following morning, all she asked for was a small donation to remove or relocate the commode. It was all in good fun, raised almost $300 dollars for her cause and gave plenty of laughs along the way.
“I’ve always had the chance to fundraise, from growing up as a Girl Guide to being a member of the Lions International Club in Beaver Valley,” Beattie explained. “I think it’s important for young people to get involved in organizations such as the Lions Club as well as others like it,” she said. “For one, I am completely humbled and blessed to be a Canadian and to have the things I do, so I think it is only right that we use our privilege in a way that gives to those who are not as fortunate.”
Aside from helping others, volunteering plays a role in personal development, says Beattie.
“For example, responsibility and dependency due to the fact that I have to be dedicated and show up when I am needed,” she added. “As someone who struggles with anxiety, especially social anxiety, volunteering has helped me step out of my comfort zone and learn new public skills such as speaking or service skills. It has also pushed me to be a better person all around and have more courage.”
As the pageant finale nears and Beattie continues to fundraise, the community can help her out another way - by voting “Danielle” in the People’s Choice category.
All that’s required is a visit to the missbc.ca website, a click on the People’s Choice tab, and a vote in the icon under her photo.
People can vote up to a maximum of 10 times each day until June 29 at noon.
“Courage led me to start my own non-profit in this area which I am very</s