Kassie Pritchard lives her life believing everything happens for a reason.
And it seems like the latest events in her life are happening so the self-described tomboy becomes a cover model.
The 23-year-old who hails from Leslieville has stunning natural red curls that proved to be attention grabbing even when pulled back into a sweaty ponytail.
A scout noticed her playing at a Red Deer College soccer game last season and suggested she go straight to the Capri Centre, where models were needed for a convention.
Pritchard, who tried modelling for the now defunct Red Deer modelling agency Faces when she was 19, decided to check it out and showed up in her grubby uniform following the game.
That’s where she met Calgary hair artist Kevin Lewis, who has since styled Pritchard’s mane into one of the seven finalists in the 2010 Redken Cover Competition.
“It’s just crazy how everything came together after a sweaty soccer game,” Pritchard said, laughing at her chance foray into hair modelling. “I had no idea it would turn into a cover magazine.”
Her luck nearly ran out, however, after she qualified for the finals following an Edmonton competition in May.
Pritchard went to go spend a month-and-half in Australia the day after the provincial competition. She then learned that finalists were to be in Toronto her flight to Toronto as well as back to Australia but Pritchard’s car was broken into and passport was stolen just days before competition.
She missed the next three flights out of Australia while waiting on an emergency passport from the Canadian Embassy.
With the essential travel document in her hand, Pritchard’s fate depended on someone not showing up for the next flight out of Sydney to Vancouver. Luck intervened again and Pritchard settle into the last seat available, first class, for the 16-hour flight.
By the time she made it to Toronto, Pritchard had missed the first two days of the competition but arrived just in time for the photo shoot. The picture taken now graces the Redken website and, if luck prevails yet again, will grace the December 2010 cover of the Canadian Hairdresser magazine.
The photo that gains the most votes at www.redken.ca will be featured on the front of the national hair magazine. Voting closes on Thursday.
“I’m not a girly girl,” admitted the avid athlete who grew up on a farm and worked as a carpenter for two years in Sylvan Lake. “(Modelling) lets my girly side shine through. Every girl loves getting pampered.”
Pritchard, who is studying education at the University of Alberta, will return to Red Deer in a few weeks to model in the annual Red Deer Bridal Showcase.
ptrotter@www.reddeeradvocate.com