Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 23/99) - Olympics for the performing arts? You bet. They take place in Los Angeles, California. The finals are taped for television at Universal Studios, Hollywood.

And Nicole Gagnon of Yellowknife, Miss Teen Canada International, will be there representing her country.

"I was singing at the Miss Teen Newfoundland and Labrador pageant and that's where one of the directors of the World Championship of Performing Arts asked if I was willing to participate as one of the representatives of Team Canada," explains the poised 17-year-old.

The week-long competition features six performance categories: dance, vocal, modelling, acting, comedy and bands. Gagnon will take part in the vocal competition.

"The biggest thing to win is the gold medal," says Gagnon. "But there are agents there and it's really unusual for a medallist not to get an agent."

In fact, agents from all over the world attend this event that has participants, aged five and up, representing 30 different countries.

Gagnon had the option to enter four categories in the vocal competition, and she's going for it. She will be singing gospel, an original, country and pop. Though Gagnon notes she hopes to enter four original songs for each categories.

"One guy wrote a song for Reba McIntyre that she was considering, but didn't end up doing," says Gagnon. "I might do that one."

Gagnon has been working with Efren Pereira, local musician and co-owner of Big Daddy Productions.

"I'm getting a new demo done," Gagnon says. "You need a demo for it (the competition). He writes excellent music. He's really, really good. I was amazed at the work he's done."

Gagnon insists she has her mother to thank for everything she has accomplished.

"My mom just pushes and pushes," she says. "She pushes me that much further. Where I might just give up and say, 'Oh well, it's not meant to happen' she says, 'If it didn't happen, it's because you didn't push hard enough.'"

"Every dream I've ever had my mom has made come true for me."

Gagnon has just a few months to get sponsorship and fund-raise to pay her way to Hollywood. But considering her passion for performing, her determination, and the fact that she's an extremely well-spoken and talented ambassador, this task should not prove too difficult.

Expenses include travel, accommodation, team uniforms, and clothing so she can be camera- and interview- ready at all times between Aug. 15-22.