A whirlwind spring season culminated last Saturday night for Drumheller teen Madison Colberg as she placed in the Top 20 of the Miss Universe Canada Pageant.
The Mail and all of Drumheller have been closely following Colberg’s journey into the world of pageants, going for one of the most prestigious crowns in the country. Of the more than 60 in the competition, she made it to the top one-third of the competitors.
“I am still on a high, it was absolutely incredible,” said Colberg Monday morning, now back home. “The whole journey has been absolutely incredible. It is not just the week that happened, but also the months of preparation and the growth from the experience. I had the opportunity to share my story and inspire others. Through what I have overcome, is what I have gained the most out of this.”
It has been a journey of learning and growth.
“It sounds cliché, but I have gained confidence in myself, just embracing my cleft, and how it is a defining characteristic of who I am,” she said. "I never thought a year ago I would have been doing this, and to do so well and feeling so proud is incredible.”
This journey started in March when she was interviewed for the pageant, and her campaign took off. She worked tirelessly for the named charity of the pageant, Operation Smile, raising over $12,000. She also worked her way to the top of the People’s Choice Award. She says she owes a debt of gratitude to the community that got behind her bid.
“I definitely can’t imagine a better community to live in because of the support that got me to where I am,” she said. “I want to thank Drumheller, with how the community came together, and all the people who donated to Operation Smile.”
After such an overwhelming experience, Colberg says she is taking some time to decompress before she takes on her next challenge.
“I am going to let my mind settle and see what comes next,” she said.
“Words cannot describe the last week. It feels like it has been three months because we did so much, but at the same time it feels like one day because it went so fast,” she said.
