A shining young star from Okotoks will be competing in the Miss Teen Canada pageant this weekend.

Taylor McCarroll, says she started the pageant circuit just a short time ago when she was 15-years-old.

"I started with my agency when i was 15, and I did the Miss Teen Calgary pageant, and I didn't win. I wasn't even a runner up, I was just a contestant," she said.

McCarroll, who was also crowned Miss Teen and Miss Teenage Calgary this year, says this competition is her first international endeavour.

"I've never really done anything competitive internationally, so I'm trying my best to get ready mentally and physically, other than that i'm totally winging it," she said.

The preliminary competition begins today, where 20 of the competitors will be chosen to move into the next round as finalists.

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