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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 30, 2015 | 28 Teen taking `be your own beautiful' message to Miss Teenage Canada by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff Artscene "Connected to your Community" hen Neha-Samantha Banerjea was four years old, she met Heather Whitestone McCallum, Miss America 1995. McCallum lost her hearing when she was 18 months old and was the first deaf Miss America titleholder. It was a meeting that would inspire Banerjea, who was diagnosed profoundly deaf in both ears at 10 months. "I remember thinking that I shouldn't let my impairment stop me," the now 15-year-old told the Oakville Beaver via email. And it hasn't. The White Oaks Secondary School student and recentlycrowned Miss Teenage GTA will be among 10 others representing Ontario in, and competing for, the Miss Teenage Canada title starting Sunday (Aug. 2). After being further inspired by a family friend who was a Miss Universe Canada contestant in 2013, Banerjea said she decided she wanted to compete in a pageant. "I wanted to make a difference," she wrote. The competition, held in Toronto, was the Oakville resident's first. It was there she competed against 40 other contestants to be crowned Miss Teenage GTA. "I was so excited," she said of her reaction to winning. "It meant starting a new journey, meeting people from all around the country and being given a chance to be the voice of teenagers. "It was different from what I imagined. Going into it, I thought it would be easy and there would be tension between the girls... (but) there was none," Banerjea continued. "Everyone got along pretty well. I made some good friends." Banerjea told the Beaver she also quickly realized being part of a pageant was a lot of work, having to get sponsors, fundraise for a cause and attend public events." In addition to being crowned Miss Teenage GTA, she claimed the title of highest fundraiser -- collecting more than $4,000 for her cause, Cardiac Kids, in support of SickKids Foundation. With training for Miss Teenage Canada beginning Sunday, Banerjea will be competing with 99 other contestants from across W Neha-Samantha Banerjea, who was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at 10 months old, was crowned Miss Teenage GTA earlier this year and will be vying for the title of Miss Teenage Canada next week in Toronto. | photo by Graham Paine ­ Oakville Beaver Canada at Toronto's Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The preliminary round starts Aug. 7, followed by the talent show Aug. 8 and final crowning taking place Aug. 9. "My platform for this pageant is body image," she wrote. "I believe that being your own kind of beautiful is an important message. It is crucial to love yourself for who you are, no matter what." Contestants will be scored on several components such as: interviews, evening gown, photogenic, charity fundraising and overall impressions, to name a few. "I am not nervous," Banerjea admitted, "but rather really excited to experience it all... I am looking forward to meeting the contestants, training and the talent show where I will be performing a ballroom dance." When asked if being profoundly deaf and needing assistance to hear could place her at a disadvantage in the competition, Banerjea simply answered, "any disability has its disadvantages... but I don't let it affect me. If you need help then you ask for it." The Oakville teen explained how in loud environments, she may miss out on a few words "here and there," but the biggest obstacle she faces daily is going to sleep. Because Banerjea takes out her sound processor before bed, it leaves her unable to hear while asleep, making alarm clocks futile and needing someone to wake her up. After she was diagnosed, Banerjea's parents chose to have her learn spoken language as her form of communication, as opposed to sign language, which meant the youngster had to learn to listen through intensive auditory verbal therapy. The therapy is offered through SickKids Hospital and VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children and teaches its participants to listen and speak using their residual hearing and through amplification devices, such as cochlear implants and hearing aids. If it weren't for Banerjea's family, mom Sujata-Kale Banerjea, dad Ronnie and older sister Nikita, the teen would not have the confidence she has now, she told the Beaver. "Though there were many obstacles, my family worked together to help me overcome them," she wrote. During the pageant week, Banerjea's supporters can vote for her online at www.missteenagecanada.com. Residents can also stay up-to-date with the results by liking her Facebook page, Miss Teenage GTA, and following her blog at missteengta.com. of whom professionally trained at York University. Visit www.brontehistoricalsociety.ca. Oakville Improv monthly jam Oakville Improv's monthly jam is Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Two hours, eight performers and at $5 cover at the Moonshine Café, 137 Kerr St. In the Arts... Dancing Under the Stars Oakville's Faven Boutique is hosting a Dancing Under the Stars social tomorrow (Friday). The inaugural event is free to attend and will be held at Taste of Columbia, 67 Bronte St., from 7-9 p.m. It will include an evening of dancing and classic music from the 50s-80s. RSVP with Bemi at 416-910-8601. Summer 2015 Art Show, Sale opening Set at Sovereign House, 7 West River St., the Summer 2015 Art Show and Sale runs from Aug. 1-12 on Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. Opening reception is Saturday. Peruse the works of many local artists: Bronte's Teresa Thompson, and Burlington's Dick Sanders; as well as Rose Marie Nicolucci and Sarah Carvalho of 100 Acre studio Gallery; both BIG MOVIES, SMALL PRICES! 171 Speers Road (at Kerr) Oakville 905-338-6397 www.film.ca facebook.com/filmca @FilmCaCinemas General: $8.50 MiSSion iMPoSSibLe JuLy 31 FanTaSTiC Four (PG) auGuST 7 Shaun The SheeP (G) auGuST 7 We're nominated for Oakville's Best Movie Theatre! Help us continue our 7-year winning streak! Vote at www.oakvillereaderschoice.com The Man FroM u. n. C. L. e. (PG) auGuST 14 Children ( 3-13): $6.50 Seniors ( 65+): $6.50 Tuesdays: $5.00