Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services

NNSL (Aug 26/98) - For a few seconds, Nicole Gagnon wasn't sure she'd won.

Then when she realized it was her name that had been called, the new Miss Teen Canada International said it was a great feeling.

"I stood there. I didn't think it was me. Then I freaked and I started crying," she said.

Gagnon, reached Saturday at her hotel in Toronto, captured the title at the Living Arts Centre in the Hammerson Theatre in Mississauga Saturday night.

She was vying for the crown against eight other youths from across Canada.

Among her duties as Miss Teen Canada International, Gagnon will represent Canada at the Miss Teen World Pageant in Los Angeles in July 1999.

Gagnon said she will be making appearances at many Canadian events in the coming year, among them the Calgary Stampede.

Gagnon took two first prizes from the competition. Earlier, she won the talent portion for singing the Leann Rimes' hit Commitment.

Gagnon said she has received much support from family and friends in the lead-up to the competition.

"They hadn't finished crowning me and my mom (Jennie) was on the phone home."

Before returning home to Yellowknife, Gagnon said she will visit relatives in Ottawa. When she gets back it will be time to think about back to school. She will be entering her last year at St. Patrick's High School.

Kim Rossignol, vying for Miss Canada International -- the two pageants were held at the same venue Saturday -- called Gagnon's win "excellent."

Rossignol did not place but added that Gagnon's accomplishment is great for the North.

Rossignol's roommate during the competition, Stoney Creek, Ontario's Leanne Baird, would go on to win the Miss Canada International.

"I think it would be great if we could get the new Miss Teen Canada International and the new Miss Canada International together in Yellowknife. I'm already planning to get Baird to visit Yellowknife."