Melanie Renaud
Height: 5’9
Hometown: Windsor, ON
Languages: English, French
Occupation: Digital Marketing Strategist
Melanie Renaud is a 26-year old marketing strategist, model, mentor and philanthropist. She graduated from the University of Windsor with honours in Digital Journalism and Communications.
Melanie is a Global Ambassador and spokesperson for the Starkey Hearing Foundation. She proudly worked alongside Delta Zeta National to raise 5-million dollars in 5 years for the foundation and travelled with a team to Guatemala on a Starkey mission trip to provide hearing aids and hearing care to over 800 people. Melanie had the life changing first hand experience of providing that care and seeing a child hear for the first time. She continues to support their cause and plans to volunteer with them again in the near future.
Apart from her volunteer experience with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community, Melanie is also an advocate for Autism awareness. Her aim is to educate and promote inclusivity and acceptance for everyone on the Autism Spectrum. She has always had a heart for the autism community as an older sister to her brother Max, who is on the spectrum. Melanie, Max and their Mother are currently working to publish a book together to spark conversation about the autism spectrum while also teaching respect and kindness.
She is also passionate about empowering young people with the tools and resources to develop confidence and leadership skills. During the pandemic, when there was uncertainty for in-person pageants, she created a virtual pageant called Miss Confidence Canada for teens and women to practise their skills while providing workshops aimed at confidence building, runway, and interview. Melanie volunteers at a camp for girls ages 6-12 teaching these skills and mentors collegiate women in leadership roles – she has spoken at college campuses as far as Arizona and California. Melanie hopes to inspire young women everywhere to be confident in themselves and thrive as leaders in their communities.
What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I love thrifting and vintage fashion, watching a good film, reading, writing creatively, listening to music, singing, travelling (although there are so many places I have yet to explore), and ultimately being in creative spaces is where I thrive and enjoy my time most. I also love trying new things – I would consider myself daring as I will be first to try a new rollercoaster or a foreign food my friends might be opposed to.
I think trying something at least once is important, no matter how scary or intimidating. Moments where I have tried something new have honestly been some of the most incredible experiences. Being with family, making new memories with friends, and networking – making new connections are also moments I enjoy.
List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
Trained Vocalist, Musical Theatre, studied at the Toronto Academy of acting, Competitive dancer of 12 years.
In what sports, if any, have you participated?
Competitive Dance and recreational volleyball.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
Eleven years ago, I was on my family computer and an ad showed up for Miss Teenage Canada. I signed up out of curiosity. My grandpa who encouraged me to go through with it because he had so much faith in me and saw a spark I did not know was within me. I was extremely close with my grandpa especially since my mom had me so young; he was very much a father figure to me. He taught me so much about history, his travels around the world, and the greatest piece of advice I have ever received. He said “When you are optimistic, good things will happen.” When I felt like my world was falling down he was always the person lifting me up and teaching me to shift my mindset and be positive.
About a month before I competed in my first pageant, Miss Teenage Ontario, my grandpa passed away from cancer. I was crowned that January in 2013 and had the opportunity to compete alongside 65 young women across the country for the title of Miss Teenage Canada. I felt his spirit with me the entire way – and I still do. My grandfather knew I was meant to do so many incredible things with my life and to be honest, I can’t imagine how my life would have looked if he didn’t encourage me to compete in my first pageant. He is still such a big part of my journey and to become Miss Universe Canada, would be honouring his memory in so many ways.
What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?
While there are quite a few personal accomplishments I am proud of, I am proud of myself for re-entering the modelling industry. Last year I had the pleasure of working with several designers and being selected as a model for the Riwayat Fashion Show organized by a company based in the UK. This was a very competitive fashion show to audition for and the most highest paid runway show I have ever walked in. I was honoured to have the opportunity. The reason this was such a proud moment for me is because prior to the pandemic, I thought my modelling days were behind me. When I was 19, I gave up on my dreams of modelling and acting because I thought I was not good enough and lacked the confidence to go after my dreams.
Shortly after finishing my university career, I was in a car accident which I thankfully left unharmed besides a minor concussion. This event gave me new perspective and time to reflect on the things I wanted to do in life. I wrote down some of the goals I had for myself and made sure I would pursue them. I am proud of myself for using this experience and the pandemic as an opportunity to reconnect with myself and my goals to begin to put in the work needed to achieve them. This accomplishment was only the beginning, but an important stepping stone toward more opportunities.
What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?
In my last year of university I applied for an international internship that would change my life. Out of over several applicants I was chosen as one of the 5 interns that would be working directly with the Starkey Hearing Foundation to raise 5 million in 5 years. This opportunity later led to me becoming a Global Ambassador and spokesperson for their foundation and travelling to Guatemala on an international mission trip to provide hearing aids and hearing care to over 800 people. While I had raised money for the foundation for about 5 years, being witness to the work they do in person was unlike anything I have ever experienced before.
We often take for granted the things we have like being able to listen to music, hear the voices of our loved ones or just the simplest sounds of nature or rain falling. I saw children hear the voices of their mother’s for the first time and people that were casted out from society/lost their jobs for being deaf be able to hear again. It was like seeing a miracle and knowing that the work we were doing was going to change their lives. Some countries just don’t have as much support or resources for the Deaf and Hard of hearing communities so providing the technology and care can make such a difference.
I left Guatemala with new perspective and a firm belief that children everywhere should have access to these types of services to have their best chance in life. Learning that some children are left on the sides of roads for being deaf in developing countries was one of the most saddening realities I have every heard.
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
While I would love to have my own talk show one day, I also have a few other career ambitions like becoming a New York Bestseller one day and developing my Modelling and acting career. I keep a journal and stay intentional with my personal and career goals, but I also network quite a bit as I know making connections is critical to my personal brand which will help elevate my career.
As of right now, I am working my way up in the modelling industry and was recently approached by a director who has work featured on Amazon Prime about appearing as a journalist in his film. It is important to celebrate small victories but to keep working toward my goals – you can be intentional and manifest but putting in the work is very crucial. In terms of having a bestseller – I know that is ambitious and I am still figuring out what story I was to tell, but fear of failure is not something I will let affect. I will go for my goals no matter how ambitious they may be.
What would be your “dream job” in life?
My dream job is one where I can make positive impact and enjoy what I do. Apart from my dream to be Miss Universe of which is an incredible job position I hope to achieve, I also aspire to utilize my journalism degree and have my own talk show where I can bring on other inspiring guests and share their stories. I believe this dream job and Miss Universe will work hand-in-hand.
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I grew up in a small French country town in Chatham-Kent called Pain-Court. I had a very happy childhood playing outside on the farm, getting my clothes muddy, and adventuring a little too far out of my mother’s sight sometimes. My mother was 17 when she became pregnant with me and 18 when she had me. I couldn’t imagine the struggles she went through as a young mother and I’m forever grateful to her for working hard to give me my best chance. My earliest memory is my mom and dad’s wedding in 1999 and it was my day to shine as the flower girl! My dad worked on the farm every day but he was also a drummer in a band. My mom was a singer and taught piano so our house was full of music, dancing, and laughter. When I was four years old, my first brother was born and I remember shouting from the playground excitedly that I was going to be a big sister. A couple years later my second little brother was born and although I may have wanted a little sister – not so secretly at that age, I would not have wanted it any other way.
Being the oldest also comes with a lot of responsibility, which played a big part in who I am today. At the age of 3 my brother Max was diagnosed with Autism. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that meant but it did change a lot for our family. We ended up moving to the city and my family did so much to care for my brother to help him thrive. One of the best days of my life was when Max finally started speaking – it was so emotional for my parents. He could finally talk your ear off about how he loved his trains – we even brought him to see Thomas the Tank Engine in person! Although it was not always an easy road, my family and childhood had so many happy memories and reasons to celebrate. I am who I am today because of these experiences. Being raised by young parents, they persevered and taught us the importance of hard-work, being empathetic towards others, enjoying the little things in life, and always being present.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
Cosmetics Counter girl at Shoppers Drug-mart (by far one of the best jobs I had in my teenage years). This position changed me entirely as I went from not knowing how to do my own makeup to providing makeup services and helping women look and feel they best.
List any volunteering you have done.
- Global Ambassador for the Starkey Hearing Foundation – helped to raise 5 million in 5 years and travelled on an international mission trip to Guatemala to aid over 800 people who could not afford hearing aids or hearing health care.
- Me To We Student Fundraiser
- Cardiac Kids
- United Way Youth Ambassador
- Delta PALS (Chatham-Kent Safety Village) volunteer camp counsellor
- Canadian Cancer Society volunteer
- Autism Canada ambassador
What is your most unusual talent?
Ever since I was little I walked on my toes, this was something I used to get bullied for as I was already a tall child but my tendons are short. I was in physiotherapy for years and even went through a period where I slept with casts on my feet to extend my tendons. Being a toe-walker actually worked in my benefit as a dancer and it was a running joke for my ballet teacher that she never had to remind me to be on my toes. I don’t know if this is necessarily a talent but to others it was unusual. Today women envy how long I can last in heels effortlessly (I cannot wear flats). Although I was teased a lot growing up, its a win in my books!
Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
Antigua, Guatemala was incredibly beautiful. Before working on my mission trip with the Starkey Hearing Foundation, I had a day to explore which I spent sightseeing, attending a local cooking class, and visiting the market. The people were incredibly friendly, welcoming, and the city itself was so colourful it reminded me of a page out of a book. I will forever cherish the memories made in Antigua.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
I hope to be travelling around the world, giving back and helping to provide access to healthcare and education in developing countries, and I hope to be living my best life and doing things I love. At my core, I believe my life is meant to be spent with peace and happiness, spreading positivity wherever I go.