Kelowna's Lady of the Lake ready for inspiring journey

She's the face of everything that's good about being from Kelowna: 18-year-old Mahik Toora has ascended to the prestigious position of Lady of the Lake.

As she embarks on this fresh chapter of her life, the Rutland Secondary School graduate attributes her decision to take part in the program to both her friends' influence and the inspiring journey itself.

“The program is something that I didn't imagine," she told Kelowna10. " I did learn many new skills; I learned how to speak louder, and clearer,” she said, noting how varied the process is.

“We also learn about car maintenance, eating techniques, etiquette, speeches, fashion, just everything in general.”

It was transformative journey for the young lady who will enter the UBCO Management program next month.

“You enter and someone else leaves, and you're a new person at the end of the journey," she explains. "It's definitely very surprising winning, very shocking. And it feels amazing because it now feels like as if I'm a part of history."

Having just been crowned Lady of the Lake, Toora has assumed the role of a dedicated ambassador for Kelowna, which she fully embraces.

Her interaction with the younger generation, who are already fascinated by her new position, holds a special significance for her.

Representing all that's good about Kelowna

"Little kids come up to me, they're like, 'Oh, you're a queen, you're a princess,' and they want to take pictures. And I think that's heartwarming," she said. "As an ambassador, I will do my best to represent Kelowna and inspire countless people for sure."

With the recent wildfires that have affected the community, she sees her role as a platform to offer solace and hope.

"I think that as an ambassador, I have an opportunity to tell people that it will be okay. And I think as the fires are settling down, we can come together as a community and make people feel better and tell people that it's going to be okay,” Toora said.

She anticipates cherishing the personal growth and experiences that await her over her one year term, while also congratulating Kelowna's Princess Brooklyn Bradshaw and Lady in Waiting Katelyn Aubin.

“I'm going to take the most about who I become throughout the journey, just how I become a new person and how I've engaged with so many people and learn new things,” she said. “I think that's going to be a really big factor throughout my journey for sure.”