The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Brittany Brown and Kyla Jackson must feel like celebrities when they walk down the street and get recognized. But the recognition shouldn't come as a complete surprise to Brittany, Flin Flon's reigning Queen Mermaid, or Kyla, her First Princess. "It happens at least three times a week that people in the community congratulate me," says Brittany, an athletic Hapnot Collegiate senior. "My friends joke around about how I'm seen as a celebrity." "A lot of people notice me," says Kyla, a grade 11 Hapnot student with a keen interest in music. "A lot of people come up to me on the street and say how good the pageant is. There's a lot of appreciation from people, and it's been really nice." It's now been more than eight months since the young women were crowned at the emotional conclusion of the 2003 Queen Mermaid Pageant, held last Canada Day at the R.H. Channing Auditorium. Throughout their tenure, they've served as positive role models, particularly for young girls who one day hope to run in the pageant themselves. "You don't want to be setting a bad example," says Brittany. "It's not only for the younger kids, it's for the girls in Hapnot who might be thinking about going in the pageant, so you have to take it seriously." The teens have made a few public appearances in recent months, including reading to children at the library and visiting seniors at a Christmas party put on by the Rotary Club. Such experiences have been beneficial when it comes to dealing with that legendary fear called public speaking. "I know I've conquered the fear of being in front of people," says Kyla. "I didn't really like talking in front of people that much before, but being out in the community really helped me." Not surprisingly, Brittany and Kyla have taken some good natured ribbing about their titles, but for them, that's all part of the fun. "People crack jokes like, 'Yeah, I'm the princess now so I don't have to do certain things,'" says Kyla with a laugh. Aside from the wisecracks, Brittany has found another humourous situation arise Ñ her friends are always wanting to try on her crown. "Everyone wants to wear it," smiles the Queen Mermaid. "They always fight over it when I have friends over." Both Brittany and Kyla speak very highly of the Queen Mermaid Pageant and want to see the decades' old tradition continue for many years to come. "I hope many girls go in it because it's an experience that they won't forget," says Brittany. "I have loved the experience. I would never trade it for the world." Kyla concurs, saying that the chance to meet so many new people and to be involved with the community has been fun and memorable. With Brittany set to graduate this June and Kyla next June, the girls are looking ahead to their future plans. Brittany plans to study police studies at the University of Regina and, after graduation, become an RCMP officer. As for Kyla, she has her mind set on attending Brandon University and studying music.
