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www.oakvillebeaver.com Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2007 29 LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER VYING FOR THE CROWN: Oakville's Alexandra Kane is one of 30 young women selected to contest for the Miss World Canada crown during the five-day-long beauty pageant next month in Toronto. The 24-year-old will be singing a song she wrote for the talent portion of the pageant. Musical beauty queen By Krissie Rutherford OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF M ore than 300 young women applied to contend for the title of Miss World Canada 2007 ­ Alexandra Kane needed just six minutes to make an impression. After a brief interview that included a runway walk, the Oakville resident was selected as one of 30 to vie for the crown during next month's pageant. "It was a really quick process, and I have to brag about this," said Kane, smiling. "I didn't get a call-back for another interview, whereas a lot of girls did. They called me a couple days after the initial interview and said, `We want you.'" The 24-year-old Toronto native, who moved to Oakville recently after attending high school in Florida, isn't into pageants for the beauty aspect. "I'm a musician, and there's very little opportunity for musicians to get their music out there," said Kane, who plays piano, sings, composes and produces her own music. "Whatever avenue I can use to get my music out there, I'll do it. So here I am, doing pageants." And, the University of Western Ontario music graduate admits, so far the experience isn't what she expected. "Before entering this competition, I thought beauty queens were ditsy," she said. "But you need substance, you need direction, you need education. And I think it's a great opportunity for people to hear your voice and your ideas ­ and I have a lot to say." Kane's platform is based on the idea of bringing back the importance of the arts to the school system. "I think it's so important that kids are exposed to music as a way of expressing themselves," she said. Kane will be expressing herself during "Before entering this competition, I thought beauty queens were ditsy. But you need substance, you need direction, you need education. And I think it's a great opportunity for people to hear your voice and your ideas -- and I have a lot to say." Miss World Canada contestant Alexandra Kane the five-day-long Miss World Canada competition next month, singing a song she wrote specifically for the talent portion of the pageant titled `I'm Gonna Make It.' "It kind of catalogues my self-discovery through this whole process," she said, adding the song, like her musical interests, is "kind of all over the place." "I'm excited about the talent part of the pageant. Singing is what I love most and it's what I'm most passionate about." But Kane is also ready for the other parts of the competition, including the swim suit and evening wear sections. "I have been working my butt off at the gym. I quit my job to concentrate on this ­ you have to be in a bikini," she said, smiling. "I had to exercise and diet. "I'm really excited, I'm pumped. This competition is really important to me. I want to show everybody I've been working really hard." She's had a lot of help, too, from her parents and brother, who she calls "a great support system." "They all watch what I eat and say, `Don't eat those Pringles!'" Kane said, laughing. "They're fully supportive of me." Her brother has helped with the music, and her mother with the wardrobe, helping her pick out her evening wear. Kane has competed in only one pageant before ­ the Miss Halton Region in October, where she came second-runner-up ­ but she's seen more than enough to know how they work. "I would watch these shows all the time on TV, I watch Miss World every year," she said. "It didn't register that all you have to do is apply to do it." The winner of Miss World Canada will go on to represent the country in the Miss World Competition. "I can't wait to win," said Kane, smiling. "I'm so excited." Kane is still looking for sponsorship for the Miss World Canada pageant. Anyone interested in supporting her can e-mail Alexandra.kane@hotmail.com.