Photo Courtesy of Emma Morrison, Instagram
CANADA – The newly named Miss World Canada has just made history as the first Indigenous woman to win the Canadian beauty pageant. Emma Morrison was named Miss World Canada on Sunday night and will now advance to the Miss World competition in 2023, hosted by Vietnam.
“Thank you to my friends and family who have stood by my side from the very beginning, I love you all so much. Thank you to my Indigenous community, Chapleau, and Chapleau Cree First Nation for always lending your support for my fundraisers and sharing all my posts leading up to my pageant,” Morrison wrote on Instagram, continuing on to thank her sponsors and others who have supported her in this journey.
“Now the real work begins, I am so honoured to represent Canada as a Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations woman at the International Miss World Festival 2022. I am so thrilled to be taking on this role, to be this positive example, to show Indigenous youth, Indigenous people, and all Canadians that you too can accomplish anything that you strive and work for. Irregardless of your limitations, surroundings, through passion and drive you can do anything!” Morrison wrote in another post.
A member of Chapleau Cree First Nation in Ontario, the 22-year-old is no stranger to the beauty pageant world. She has previously snagged the title of Miss Northern Ontario and Miss Teenage Canada.
As part of the Miss Canada competition, contestants are required to develop a “Beauty With A Purpose” project, and Morrison’s focused on Indigenous ribbon skirts.
“After the discovery of the 215 unmarked graves found at Kamloops Residential School, it inspired me to reconnect to my culture. This is when I began my Beauty With A Purpose. Ribbon skirts are a traditional piece of clothing worn by Indigenous women and are an expression of connection, resilience, empowerment, and celebration,” Morrison wrote on Facebook.
She has made and delivered 23 ribbon skirts, and says she has reached over 170,000 accounts through her videos focusing on these traditional garments.
“I love wearing ribbon skirts because it provides a physical link to my culture. I hope to remind Indigenous women to stand strong and be proud of their cultural identity while wearing a traditional piece of clothing because we are beautifully resilient,” Miss Canada continued.
Let’s leave this trailblazer her flowers in the comments section!
