'Miss El' plane is a tribute to the Hotel Eldorado and the Lady of the Lake pageant

'Miss El' is sitting pretty at the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence.

She's a 1940-style, curly haired brunette pin-up girl wearing red lipstick, captain's hat, white shorts and red high heels.

And, she's also a meticulously restored and gleaming 1948 De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver plane.

'Miss El' can be both because the beauty queen illustration is on the right side of the plane that carries her name.

The aircraft was unveiled this week at the KF Aerospace Centre for Excellence beside Kelowna International Airport.

'Miss El' will be on display at the centre for the winter and then she will fly down to the Hotel Eldorado and land on her floats to be on display at the dock there for the summer.

Of course, she will also take flight from the hotel all summer long.

Hotel Eldorado owners -- Argus Properties -- commissioned the rebuilding, refurbishing and repainting of the plane to celebrate the hotel's 100th anniversary in 2026.

So, you could say this year is a warm up for the hotel's centenary.

The illustration and name of 'Miss El' on the fuselage is also a homage to the Miss Kelowna Lady of the Lake pageants, which started in 1931 as Regatta Queen and renamed Lady of the Lake in 1934.

"This aircraft stands as a testament to the pioneering spirit and engineering excellence that defined Canadian aviation," said Argus Properties CEO Ted Callahan.

"Restoring 'Miss El' is not just about bringing an aircraft back to life -- it's about celebrating a legacy that continues to inspire generations."

Sealand Aviation in Campbell River did all the updates on 'Miss El' to highlight her original design as well as create an updated, functional showpiece for the Hotel Eldorado's 100th.

The De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver is a cornerstone of Canadian aviation.

The all-metal, small, turboprop plane was designed as a versatile bush plane to fly in and out of tight spaces in the Canadian wilderness.

The plane can operate with skis for snow landings and take offs, floats for water or wheels for short runways of any sort.

The Association of Industrial Designers named the Beaver one of 'Canada's Finest Designs'.

'Miss El' started her life in 1949 registered as CF-DTZ for the Government of Canada's Department of Transport with stints in Ottawa, Toronto, Moncton and Goose Bay.

Over the decades, she also underwent major modifications, getting water fins, amphibious floats, a Hartzell three-blade propeller, an extended cabin and Sealand Alaska door.