Oldest Miss Universe Canada contestant says 'putting myself on IG using a cane is something I would never have done' a year ago. Why she's doing it now

Lorraine Peters is all about women's empowerment. The 59-year-old former Miss Universe Canada contestant took to social media this week in hopes of inspiring others on how to get through "rough days," as she showed herself using a cane following a hip surgery.

"Overcoming adversity, pageant queen edition," the Rothesay, N.B.-native wrote at the start of her Instagram Reel, which featured her in a room holding onto a cane and doing standing lateral leg raises. She added that "putting myself on IG using a cane is something I would never have done, even a year ago."

"I am doing it now because I want to inspire women to keep going when they're down or when things look bleak," Peters, who placed in the top 20 of the 2024 Miss Universe Canada pageant, continued. "We are all going to have times of adversity and yours may come when you are planning and preparing to do a pageant or something big in your life, which was the case with me."

Peters then shared five tips she's using post-surgery, and for the next pageant she plans to participate in once she turns 60 in July. Her first tip included choosing to see your setback as "part of your story," one that could help or inspire other people.

For tip number two, Peters suggested visualizing yourself as a winner who's full of strength and healing: "Your subconscious doesn't know the difference between reality and fantasy." She then shared for her third tip that you can always put your energy into action, even if that means taking a break from something like walking to focus on another task like interviewing.

Her fourth tip focused on surrounding "yourself with high energy positive people who bring out the queen in you," where she added you should "speak your dreams into existence." For her final tip, she advised celebrating every win you accomplish — even the small ones.

"The universe gives you more of what you put out there so be grateful for every tiny victory and each positive thing no matter how small," she said at the end of her post.

Peters often takes to social media to share tidbits of wisdom and inspiration; her most recent most urged people to stop questioning an older woman's age and start asking how she's living her life. "Women of age are not little old ladies. They were girls and young women with dreams and ambitions," she wrote.

She's also been transparent about her healing journey following her hip replacement surgery. Last week, she updated her followers with a one-week post-operation post. At that point, she noted patients typically can walk comfortably with the assistance of a cane or walker.

"I want to inspire women to get strong. It is not a matter of 'if' but 'when' you will need to rely on your physical strength and fitness to get you through something challenging. How you rebound will 100 per cent depend on how fit and strong you were going into it," she reflected, adding she's thankful she's been strength training for years.

"Going through hip surgery at nearly 60 has proven to me that lifting weights for 38 years is priceless. I can lift myself from a sit position with my good leg, I can do pull-ups, I can carry my own body weight and all of these things have made my recovery thus far very easy," she shared, to which her followers supported her in the comments section of the post.

"Go, girl, go!" one person wrote.

"Beautiful in all ways!" another raved.

"Wow, looking good! someone added.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram.