Alyssa Lugo-Mayrand

Height: 5’4
Hometown: Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Languages: French, English, Spanish (conversational)
Occupation: Childcare Worker

Born in the city of Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Alyssa is a 20-year-old mental health advocate currently pursuing a simultaneous program in Psychology at the University of Sudbury. Being the firstborn of a Dominican father and a Canadian mother, the young artist speaks four different languages which include French, English, Spanish, and a bit of ASL as she believes that it is important to be able to communicate with the world around her. As someone who loves challenges, Alyssa spent her early years learning synchronized swimming until her teenage years. What started out as a hobby, later turned into a passion that led to several gold medals in the Quebec Games. Although she excelled at swimming, Alyssa was drawn towards acting and was determined to pursue it professionally. At the age of fifteen years old, she made her entrance into the world of acting by appearing in her first short film: Parle-moi (Talk To Me) by Jules de Niverville in Montreal. Three years later, she left the comfort of her home to train at Vancouver Film School in the Acting For Film and Television Program, thanks to which she had the chance to master her acting craft, from the audition room to on camera as well as to become a lead character in several projects such as: Valentine’s Day Disaster by Shane Tweedun/VFS Production (2021), Detention by Arun Fryer & Ana Carrizales/AGA FILMS (2021), and Eva by Pacôme Baudet/UQUAT Production (2023).

Through her mental health awareness community, Alyssa wants to encourage the world to become their own hero by empowering them to find the strength within themselves to own their true colours. As an agent of change, her main objective is not only to break the conformity effect engendered by our societies, but to give whoever wants to listen the courage to live by reminding the world that each and every one of us is a light, and that it is by helping, and supporting each other that we share a little bit of ours with theirs. That we, as individuals, have much more power than we realize, and that we can all contribute to a world of change in which everyone invests their time in the subjects that are most important to them (politics, mental health, environment, etc.) if we allow ourselves to be our own person without fear of the gaze of judgment. All it takes is for everyone to understand how important they are, and that starts with educating the individual to mental health, emotional intelligence, self-love, etc.

Being homeschooled so that she can work in the film industry, moving to the other side of the country at 18 years old to pursue her dreams, and making the best out of a terrible situation (Covid-19) by reuniting several school graduates and teachers from different establishment around Quebec in order to send a beautiful message of hope and positivity through a video diffused on social media only proves that she is able to achieve any goal regardless of its scale or fear factor. Juggling between being a childcare worker, a mental health advocate, a scriptwriter, a full time psychology student, a video editor, an actor, a musician, and an artist, her all-time favorite hobby would have to be singing. In fact, Alyssa has been singing since she was a little girl and even auditioned for the Dutch reality television talent show Star Academy despite her fear of singing in front of other people at the time. Passionate, the young woman isn’t afraid to dare so that she can make the best out of a life full of surprises.

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?

I love singing, dancing, writing, drawing, painting, photography, editing, swimming, boating, listening to music, learning new languages, spending time with family, and going on adventures with friends.

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)

• Synchronized swimming
• Acting (Film & Television)
• Theatre
• Painting/drawing
• Singing

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

I had the chance to do competitive synchronized swimming for 5 years.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?

My little sister is one of the main reasons that I am the person that I am today. As someone whose opinion mattered a lot to me when I was a kid, it was the good times as well as the bad times that we had together that built a part of who I am today.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?

To be completely honest, one of my greatest personal prides is going to live for a year on the other side of the country to begin what has become an incredible experience at Vancouver Film School in British Columbia. Having developed an anxiety disorder as well as agoraphobia a few months before my departure, getting out of my comfort zone was very complicated for me at that time, even though I had to do it anyway to work on film sets. As becoming an actress, an advocate for change, and an advocate for mental health were my goals, I could not conceive that my sudden anxiety disorder would suddenly take control over my life and at the same time ruin all my chances of succeeding in what I wanted to undertake in the future. With that in mind, I jumped at the chance that came my way to move to Vancouver only six days after one of the school representatives called to tell me that a spot was suddenly released. I boarded the plane and arrived in a city where a whole new world presented itself to me. Filled with surprises, the sounds of police cars and ambulances, the screams of various people during the night, excrement on the ground, and tall, imposing buildings overwhelmed me and deprived me of my feeling of safety. I arrived one day before the beginning of the program and slept in a motel for the first few days before finding an apartment with an amazing roommate who is now a good friend. It wasn’t easy, but I had confidence that all of this wouldn’t be for nothing, and I was right. Meeting all of these actors made me realize why I love this work so much, and I will never forget the incredible adventure that I had the chance to be a part of. I have grown as a person, and I learned how to overcome my anxiety in a few months by not allowing it to control my life, and this is my greatest pride.

What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?

I like to think that my emotional intelligence is one of the most interesting things about me. Being able to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle my emotions, I am lucky enough to be able to overcome whatever comes my way. Of course, that doesn’t mean that it’s always easy, but it is one of my biggest strength.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?

I want to make a profession out of being an actor, a psychologist, and an influencer. I am currently studying in a psychology program that could get me there. I am also still taking acting classes to build my craft and am advocating for mental health on social media to try to make our world a more comprehensible place.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

I would love to become an actress. Being an actor means telling stories and sharing various messages with people in order to make this world a more comprehensible place. It is about letting yourself be vulnerable so you can share your humanity with people as well as speak for those who can’t by bringing their stories to life. Acting is something that I love doing as much as writing, and I hope to make a career out of it.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.

I am proud to say that I was born in the charming town of Rouyn-Noranda in Abitibi-Témiscamingue. A place with fantastic people where everyone knows each other. As an elementary school girl, I was the little light of innocence that believed in the beauty in all things and that the world, as contradictory as it could be, was a place full of acceptance, compassion, and hope for all. My family and I had the habit of going to our cottage after school every weekend. Having a younger sister, we had a lot of fun creating imaginary worlds, stories, adventures, and even role-playing. As for my parents, they always showed me and my sister unconditional love. With us, the phrase “I love you” is far from taboo, which has greatly helped me to feel less alone and abnormal when the other children in primary school all made me feel like an alien.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

Chilcare worker.

List any volunteering you have done.

I have already volunteered at figure skating shows as well as in a daycare center.

What is your most unusual talent?

I can write on a sheet of paper with my right foot!

Where is the most interesting place you have been to?

Dominican republic. The world is so united in this country. A lot of people are friends with their neighbors; they prioritize family, and they never miss a moment to spend with their loved ones. Of course, not everybody is like this, but it is beautiful to see.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

Make a living out of being an actress, writing my own films to share with the world my visions, my perceptions, my stories as well as messages through inspiring, relatable characters. I would also like to be an influencer and help the world as best I can through mental health awareness. To make this world a place where the individual is not afraid to be authentic an where I work with other people who are not afraid to dare living life as fully as possible. In 10 years, I imagine myself still growing and evolving with my community, which we all do until our last breath.