Beauty pageants traditionally judge a young woman on her beauty, poise and talents. Of course, physical beauty is more a matter of genes than skills, and today's beauty pageants are often thought to exploite women. It hasn't always been that way.

From the early 1900s to the 1990s, beauty pageants were an important part of community life in northern BC.

In the early 1900s, families were often isolated on farms or reserves far from town on poor roads. Picnics, festivals, carnivals and rodeos were the highlights of the year and were often the only opportunity many people had to socialize. Families would flag a train or walk and ride in a wagon over rough roads for an entire day to attend dances or fall fairs or to join work bees to build community halls and rodeo rings.

Public events built a sense of community and many of the events included a contest to crown a queen. There were Snow Queens, Ice Queens, Ladies of the Lake, Jubilee Queens and Rodeo Queens. A queen represented the pride people felt for their town or valley. Pageants were always fun events and a chance to show off the talents of eligible young women.