Guest Author - M. E. Wood

A Canadian tradition, the 53rd annual Miss Universe® Canada Pageant will be held at Casino Rama, located just north of Toronto. The reigning Miss Universe®, Amelia Vega and Miss Universe® Canada, Leanne Marie Cecile will assist in crowning the new Miss Universe® Canada 2004 before a live pageant audience.

Miss Universe® Canada is the Canadian representative sent to compete at the annual Miss Universe® pageant. Canada is one of only five countries (along with France, Germany, Sweden and the USA) which have competed in each Miss Universe( pageant since its inception in 1952.

With an established reputation for presenting world-class concerts and special events, Casino Rama is pleased to be the host venue for the 2004 Miss Universe® Canada pageant. Entertainment for the Pageant Presentation Show (Friday, January 23rd) and Pageant Finals Show (Sunday, January 25th) will be announced at a later date, but count on it being another couple of amazing talents!

Fifty delegates from across Canada will compete for the title of Miss Universe® Canada 2004 awarded on Sunday, January 25th, 2004. The contestants will arrive at Casino Rama on Saturday, January 17th to kick off Pageant Week and spend time getting to know each other, rehearsing for the show, and visiting Toronto and the surrounding area. The pageant consists of three separate audience attended events for which you must be 19 years or older to attend:

Pageant Presentation Show (Friday, January 23rd, 2004)
All 50 delegates from across Canada compete before a live audience and a ten-person judging panel in the traditional categories (Swimwear and Evening Gown) for the chance to be selected as one of the top 15 semi-finalists. Tickets for this show will be $40/$60 inclusive of sales taxes.

Pageant Finals Show (Sunday, January 25th, 2004)
The top 15 semi-finalists selected from Friday's Pageant Presentation Show compete for the title of Miss Universe® Canada 2004 in front of the same ten-person judging panel as well as our live audience in the traditional categories (Swimwear and Evening Gown), plus the addition of a live interview/question and answer segment. However, all 50 delegates will be involved in production numbers throughout the show. Tickets for this show will be $60/$80 inclusive of
sales taxes.

Coronation Ball (January 25th, 2004)
Immediately following the pageant, will be the official (and magical) presentation to the public of the new Miss Universe® Canada 2004. Winners of the other awards and titles will also be presented (i.e. Miss Photogenic 2004, etc.) at this formal but fun affair that wraps up Pageant Week. A very limited number of tickets will be available for purchase to this event and retail for $35 inclusive of sales taxes.

Tickets for all the events will go on-sale Thursday, December 4th at 12 noon EST. Tickets may be purchased through any TicketMaster outlet, online at www.casinorama.com or in-person at Casino Rama Box Office.

Miss Universe® Canada delegates are selected each year by competing in local and regional casting calls and pageants held in select areas across the country.

'Beauties of Canada' has the exclusive rights to send a Canadian representative to the Miss Universe® Pageant. The titleholders of Miss Universe® Canada personify the combination of beauty and intelligence that defines women of the 21st Century. As a new company producing the Miss Universe® Canada pageant, 'Beauties of Canada' has a corporate structure and goals defined
by the Miss Universe® Organization.