By Lilly Willner
In my interview with Ms. Harrison she talks
about her best friend, her great sponsors, and her
career plans and goals.
Sarah Ainsley Harrison is not a stereotypical
pageant girl. For her, beauty is about a healthy
mind, body, and spirit. That’s why the 2013 Miss
International Canada worked to become Vice
President of her college’s Student Association
and ran social events, sports, and charity work
throughout the college. She also was Minister
of the Nova Scotia Secondary School Studies
Association and a sponsored athlete. Sarah took
the time to talk to us about health, fitness, beauty,
and her greatest achievements.
Ms. Harrison is a rugby playing former Miss
Canada. She wore the title of Miss International
Canada for 2013, and won the Best Body
Award at Miss Universe Canada for 2013. While
reigning as Miss International she traveled
to Tokyo representing Canada. For all the
stage appearances and focus on beauty and
muscles, Sarah shares that women in pageants
and competitions are beautiful, intelligent and
capable. She leverages her success on stage
for philanthropic work and to be a successful
spokesperson for major products in the fitness
world. Ms. Harrison was named a Celebrity
Ambassador for World Vision Canada. She loves
where she is at right now, coaching, training,
modeling, being a spokesperson, acting and
more. Yet in time she plans to return to her great
loves of travel and tourism. With her outgoing
personality she enjoys learning about people and
their cultures and seems to thrive even outside of
her day to day routine.
72 ||
FITNESS
M A G A Z I N E || JUNE 2015 || EDITION 2
FMM: What did you learn about yourself from
your experiences in pageants?
SAH: I learned the power of intent. Put forth your
intentions into the universe; ask for things and
take actions. It’s amazing what you can achieve
when you just try. From fundraising for charities to
creating sponsorship partnerships, I learned a lot
about creating a network and how much you can
achieve working with others.
FMM: As a former Miss Universe Canada, how
do you respond to claims that pageants are
sexist or misogynist?
SAH: Sexism and misogyny sadly exist in many
areas of life, not just pageants and fitness
competitions, but also into business and social
“norms”. On every forum and medium women
can choose to project a strong, intelligent, healthy
example. Pageant delegates are some of the
most accomplished women I’ve ever met…
bioengineers, lawyers, Masters and PHD students,
women who speak 10 languages fluently, women
who have started charities to help with education,
abuse, poverty, and environment. Pageants
promote philanthropy and education, beauty that
comes from within is what gives you that sparkle.
I feel that pageants give women an example of
finding their voices, seeking more knowledge,
helping others, and even highlights that women
can be leaders and inspirational. Shows like
Toddlers in Tiaras and Last Week Tonight with Jon
Oliver portray an extreme end of the spectrum, >>>