Susan Jaramillo
Height: 5’6
Hometown: Kelowna, BC
Languages: English, Spanish, French
Occupation: Student at Sprottshaw College (Business Administration Management)
From Kelowna BC, Susan Jaramillo is a first generation Canadian with Venezuelan heritage. She is a young girl with big dreams trying to do it all. When she’s not at work, she can be found shopping locally downtown, on a hike, or curled up with a good book.
Dreaming of becoming a part of the fashion world she is pursuing her dreams and preparing to applying to fashion school. Sometimes you just know when something is for you and for her that thing was fashion. Susan has always been the type of person who knows what she wants and goes for it. With that mentality she has failed and fallen down many many times but she always gets back up.
While she can definitely be a stereotypical “girly girl” loving pink, fashion, and all things romance related, she is always ready for an adventure. She is always ready to swap her heels for hiking boots and get out into nature.
What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
More than anything else I love reading. I’m a hopeless romantic, so romance novels (especially historical romances) are my favourites! Reading is followed closely by singing, I have always loved music and I adore musical theatre.
List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
Most of my training has been in music, I played violin for many years and I was trained in voice. Outside of that I took a few dance classes but nothing I trained in seriously.
In what sports, if any, have you participated?
As much as I enjoy working out, I was never a sports person. I did play basketball and rugby each for about a year in middle school however it didn’t really stick.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
There were two teachers who absolutely changed my life. In middle school I had a counsellor who was the only person at the time I felt confident talking to. I didn’t have many friends because I tended to isolate myself. Luckily I knew I could always talk to her when I felt stressed and overwhelmed. In high school I had a theatre teacher who had this super power of knowing when things were wrong and exactly what to say to make me feel better. Again she felt like a safe person to talk to when I felt alone and didn’t know what to do. Without both of these incredible women I would never have become the person I am today and in all honesty don’t know if I would have made it to today. I hope that the next time I get to see them I make them proud of the woman I have become.
What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?
Watching my younger brother grow up. My younger brother has been my best friend my whole life. As much as we have fought and argued I know that no matter what we will always be there for each other. I can and would give everything to make sure he lived the best life he possibly could. Seeing him take initiative to pursue his passions in sports and work as hard as he can to take difficult classes so he can be the most successful person he can makes me so proud. I like to believe I helped in making him who he is today so I take his successes as something to be proud of, proud that he is doing well and proud of the way I have helped him become successful in his passions.
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 believe the most interesting thing about me is how I want to do everything. I want to be the most successful person I can be so I do everything I can to do that. Right now I am just starting school for business administration management, I am working a management position in a local shoe store and I am participating in Miss Universe Canada. It seems crazy to try to do everything, and honestly it feels crazy, but when I want something I will not let anything get in my way of being as successful as I possibly can at it. I am always trying new things and working hard. I believe that trying is the most important thing a person can do. Failure is an opportunity to try again and be better than last time. My biggest fear is to be unremarkable, and the only way to not be unremarkable is to do and try to do remarkable things.
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
Every day I fantasise about working in the fashion industry. I dream of working for a fashion magazine such as vogue. Right now I’m studying business and would like to study fashion marketing after that so I can have a good understanding of both the artistic and logistical sides of the fashion industry.
What would be your “dream job” in life?
My dream job is one in which I help people. If nothing else I want to make people’s lives better in some way shape or form. Whether it’s 1 or 1000 I hope that I have a positive impact in someone’s life.
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I grew up in Kelowna BC. A go to vacation and retirement spot. We’ve got gorgeous beaches and great weather. I was raised by my mother and father and I have a younger brother. We didn’t have any biological family around since my parents immigrated from Venezuela, so we made a family with the people around us, often other immigrants so I’ve gotten to experience life with a lot of different cultures. I’ve got “aunts and uncles” from all over (and if that’s not a great metaphor for what Canada represents I don’t know what is). We’re a bunch of different people from different places and backgrounds finding family and community in one another.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
Most of my jobs have been pretty normal, I try to make a point of working locally. I have worked at a local coffee shop, I currently work at a local shoe store and my most interesting job was working at a local board game café which was super fun.
List any volunteering you have done.
While I have never technically been a volunteer there, I spend and have spent a lot of time helping my mother with animals from the animal hospital she works at. She has worked with animals all my life so from a very young age I was helping her take care of the animals we come across. I’ve had every type of animal living in my home at some point or another and we have given them a sort of rehabilitation in our care. I have also volunteered at a horse ranch, as a Sunday school teacher and I was a teaching assistant in high school.
What is your most unusual talent?
I can do a cartwheel in high heels! I wear heels every day, most people have never seen me in flat shoes so I guess it makes sense that I’d get pretty good in them.
Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
My family didn’t travel much but I do have a few memories from our trip to Venezuela when I was around 5. While those few memories aren’t much I am glad I remember what I do as I have never had the chance to go back and get to see my family.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
I’d love to have an established career, to be a businesswoman, and to be successful. Those are my biggest dreams right now. I do dream of getting married and having a family, but I’m 19 so that’s more of a 15 year plan. After I’ve established myself in the world, at least a little bit.