New Brunswick pageant contestant, 59, talks historic Miss Universe Canada finish: 'I was confident through the entire process'

Lorraine Peters may not have taken home the crown at the 2024 Miss Universe Canada pageant last month, but she certainly left her mark on judges and contestants. Although the title of Miss Universe Canada ultimately went to Ashley Callingbull, it was Peters who caught the pageant world and public's attention when she became the first-ever contestant in their 50s to compete and finish in the top 20.

In an interview with Cheryl Kozera, founder and director of Miss Ontario Regional Scholarship Pageant, the 59-year-old Rothsay, N.B-based entrepreneur gave insight into her historic appearance in the acclaimed pageant — and the public's reaction.

"I've been getting nothing but positivity right from the get-go," Peters told Kozera in an Instagram Live conversation. "But there's this [Facebook] group that for some reason, I'm getting a lot of negativity from — solely based on my age and calling me 'Granny.' That does not bother me, ... they're not acknowledging that I didn't just get air dropped into the top 20 — I competed for it."

Peters was one of 71 women competing in the week-long pageant preliminaries prior to the main event which took place on July 27 in Windsor, Ont. Judges were grading the women on four categories: Swimwear, interviews, philanthropy and evening gown. In the eight months leading up to the pageant, Peters strategized a game plan to ace the interview portion of preliminaries to help her advance in the competition.

"I knew I could hold my own at any age in an evening gown but I need that perfect score to compensate for swimwear," Peters said, noting that the "bikini" category constituted 25 per cent of the judge's score. "I believe I got that perfect score across the board."

Although she was the oldest contestant to compete, Peters remained cool, calm and collected. "I was confident through the entire process. I think that's a product of my age and maturity, in the moment under pressure, I can just come up above it all, survey and see what's really going on," she said.

Prior to competing, Peters tokd Kozera she avoids scoping out her competition. "I didn't want to get into the comparison brain," she explained. "It rarely makes anybody feel good."

Peters spoke highly of Callingbull, a 34-year-old actress, model and activist who will compete in the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico later this year.

"I met Ashley on the very first morning we were both in the makeup chairs next to each other. She is funny, she's a bit quirky, she's very kind of playful, very nice and unassuming, gorgeous, worked hard to get there. There was no other winner," she said.

Callingbull's win was her second time competing for the Miss Universe Canada title. Although she could continue competing for the title, Peters said this was a "one-time deal" for her. She now has he sights set on other pageants titles and coaching women over 30 for the pageants.

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