Growing Outside of Your Comfort Zone

In the world of pageantry, preparation can often feel like a lonely road. Late evenings filled with training, fine-tuning, and reflection — the work is physical, emotional, and mental. One of the most valuable lessons I've learned on my journey to the Regional Canada Pageants has been the courage it takes to step outside of my comfort zone, even in my own hometown.

For context, I had competed in a couple of pageants in my mid-20s while attending university. At the time, I represented the community where I was studying, not necessarily where I had built deep, lasting roots. Although I was proud to represent those places, there was often a quiet gap beneath the surface — a sense of growing in borrowed soil, with only shallow roots to anchor me.

Fast forward to today: I signed up for Regional Canada just a little under three months ago — and in the pageant world, that's not a lot of time. From the moment I registered, I knew this journey would demand more than just preparation — it would require growth. This time, representing my true hometown, there would be no hiding behind anonymity. These were the streets I grew up on, the faces who watched me learn, stumble, and rise. This time, it was personal.

More than anything, I wanted my preparation and my presentation to reflect exactly who I am. Going into this competition with a curated version of who I think I should be, I'm showing up as me, real and ready to represent my community on a national stage.

Borrowed Soil vs. Rooted Growth

There’s a big difference between planting yourself in borrowed soil and flourishing where your roots truly run deep.

During my university years, I was proud to represent new communities — but sometimes, it felt like performing on shallow ground. My support systems were new, and connections, while meaningful, hadn't had a lot of time to intertwine and strengthen.

This time, I feel more rooted in who I am, and by representing my hometown, I feel like I'm standing on ground that has shaped me, supported me, and witnessed my journey long before any spotlight ever touched my path.

My community knows who I am; I grew up here.

The Hidden Bravery in Starting Where You Are

It’s easy to step into new spaces where no one knows your history. It's harder — and braver — to grow in the place where your story is already known.

Choosing to represent my hometown meant starting where I was, without waiting for perfect timing, without hiding behind unfamiliarity. It meant trusting that the work I was willing to put in — the hours of public speaking practice, the physical training, the outreach — would tell my story louder than fear ever could.

I learned that bravery doesn’t mean being fearless. It means acting with purpose even when the fear is still whispering in the background.

Growth is Messy & That’s the Point

Growth outside of your comfort zone is not a neat, polished process. It’s messy. It’s vulnerable.

It’s full of moments when I wonder if I'm enough, if I'm ready, or if I should even try.

One of my most vulnerable moments in this journey came when I realized I needed to reach out to local media outlets and businesses to ask for support, asking for collaborations for charity fundraising and pre-pageant media appearances. The thought of putting myself out there, asking for help and visibility, made me want to turtle into my shell.

The fear of rejection, of looking stupid, or of hearing "no" felt paralyzing.

But I made a decision: to accept the discomfort anyway. This inner chaos is temporary.

Thankfully, I have empowered women behind the scenes supporting me and calling out the limiting beliefs.

They didn't tell me what to do but called me out in my mission, because if I want to grow, I need to embrace the discomfort.

So, I made the calls and sent the emails. To my surprise, I got so many enthusiastic yeses!

The reality check I got when I began to realize that my inner doubts and feelings weren’t based on facts but a deep-rooted limiting belief (you'd think I'd know that as a counsellor, right!?)

Courage Over Perfection

At every turn, I reminded myself: This is not about perfection. It’s about courage.

When you grow beyond your comfort zone, you learn that true leadership, true beauty, and true impact aren’t about presenting a flawless image.

It's about showing up with a heart open, work boots on.

Final Reflection: Where I Am Today

Today, I stand taller — not because I am fearless, but because I’ve grown in the presence of fear. Stepping out of my comfort zone to represent my hometown has connected me more deeply to the place I love and the people who have shaped me.

Every late night, every moment of doubt, every act of courage, has all been worth it.

Because even in the uncertainty, even in the stretching and the stumbling, I am becoming exactly who I'm meant to be.

If there’s one thing I could leave you with, it’s this:

🌸 Your comfort zone might feel safe — but the real magic happens when you dare to grow beyond it. 🌸