Michelle Carpentier-Solorio
Height: 5’4
Hometown: Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot, QC
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Occupation: Psychiatric nurse practitioner
Michelle learned at a young age of the privilege that it is to be Canadian. Though born in her mother’s native Mexico and Montreal always called home, Michelle spent much of her childhood following her engineer father as he traveled from Canada to developing countries in the hope of improving their electrical grids. In her years living in Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti and Senegal she witnessed a world where safety is not guaranteed, where families are a meal away from starvation and parents struggle to give their children a better life than their own. In 2009, Guinea enacted Martial Law and with the country on the brink of civil war, Michelle was urgently evacuated and returned to Canada permanently. These life experiences shaped her appreciation for Canada and the fortunate status we have to live in such a democratic, peaceful and progressive country.
Her childhood sensitized her to the struggles of daily living and fostered in her a drive to improve the lives of others. In 2016, Michelle graduated from the University of Montreal with a Bachelors degree in nursing and spent the next years working as a nurse in an emergency department, as an assistant-head nurse of a locked high-risk psychiatry unit and as the nurse manager of an outpatient clinic treating initial psychotic episodes. Most recently, Michelle completed a Masters degree at the University of Montreal and is now a nurse practitioner with a specialization in mental health. She is presently highly involved in treating and advocating for persons ill with a number of complex mental health disorders.
With the mental health epidemic only worsening and the access to care becoming increasingly difficult for Canadians, Michelle hopes to help address these needs by one day opening a clinic of her own. A dream of hers is to one day return the countries of her childhood as a volunteer with doctors without borders.
Michelle will advocate for equality between genders and inspire women to focus on their mental and physical health. In competing for Miss Universe Canada, she will also show women can be beautiful, but also intelligent and strong.
What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I enjoy traveling, painting and staying active. I am quite adventurous and am always up for a challenge! There is nothing I love more than going out hiking with my two baby Rottweilers. Sometimes, I bring my two little rabbits; but they tend to become distracted by the all-you-can-eat leaf buffet.
List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
I have a bachelors in nursing, a masters in nursing as a nurse practitioner specialized in mental health and a certification in medical aesthetics. I had piano, guitar and German classes for several years. I also did aerobic dance and Zumba.
In what sports, if any, have you participated?
I grew up in a household that would wake up at 3am to watch tennis broadcasts. To this day, my parents still have tennis streaming from 8am onwards. To say I was encouraged to play tennis is an understatement! I played the sport for many years and enjoyed the competition. I also ran track while living in Ethiopia. The capital Addis Abba in 7000 feet in altitude, and I like to think running in low-oxygen and high heat helped my cardio. In Guinea, where I lived for 4 years, I did other track sports including vault jumping and hurdling.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
My husband, Patrick, has been a real role model for me. He pushed me to go for it and pursue my master’s degree and specialization as a nurse practitioner in mental health. Despite the fact that he was very busy and working long hours during his fellowship in critical care, he supported me. For me, he is an example of perseverance and success. Despite all the obstacles, he graduated from medical school, obtained his specialization in anesthesiology while still being there for his father who had precarious health. In addition, he did not hesitate to embark on an arduous sub-specialty training in critical care medicine to be able to treat the sickest persons. He is an example to follow and I am very proud of him.
What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?
I think reaching my professional goals is my most significant accomplishment. But I am also particularly proud to have trained my two 110lbs Rottweilers to be loyal, kind and gentle companions. I get a lot of looks when people see me and my small frame walking down the street with two gentle giants!
What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?
While not a typical ‘interesting’ moment, I did experience an unexpected challenge. While I was working full-time and pursuing further training, both my dogs had to undergo multiple orthopaedic surgeries. My youngest required the reconstruction of her pelvis because of hip dysplasia and shortly after, my eldest tore her knee ligaments. Four surgeries in total in less than one year. Dogs, unlike people, do not understand what has just happened to them and do not know that their recovery is precarious. Stopping dogs from running, jumping and just being themselves is certainly not easy any day; now imagine keeping them calm for a year.
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to build a clinic to improve access to mental and physical medical care and also add medical aesthetics to my practice. To do this, I need to focus on building a team and, through my positive leadership, encourage the team to innovate in the medical field. I would also like to launch a campaign to promote both the inner and outer beauty of women, combat body shaming, and promote self-acceptance.
What would be your “dream job” in life?
I am fortunate that after much studying and hard work, I am now working in my dream profession in a field I love. In the future, I would like to open a clinic to further improve access to mental and physical medical care.
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
Though I was born in my mother’s native Mexico, I spent much of my childhood following my Canadian engineer father as he traveled to impoverished countries in hope of developing their electrical grids. In Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti and Senegal I witnessed a world where safety is not guaranteed, hunger is always a meal away from starvation and parents struggle to give their children a better life than their own. In 2009, Guinea enacted Martial Law and with the country on the brink of civil war, I was urgently evacuated and returned to Canada permanently. These life experiences shaped my appreciation for Canada and the fortunate status we have to live in such a democratic, peaceful and progressive country. My childhood sensitized me to the struggles of daily living and fostered my drive to improve the lives of others.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
When I was younger, before venturing into the medical field, I worked a lot in customer service. This allowed me to develop my communication skills, which proved helpful when I later interned in psychiatry. Then, psychiatry allowed me to strengthen my personality, set boundaries, and respect them. I believe these experiences shaped my personality and made me the person I am today.
List any volunteering you have done.
- (2023 – Present) Participating in drafting guidelines for assisted dying in Quebec for psychiatric conditions.
- (2023 – Present) Collaborating with the Government of Quebec to establish standards of excellence for the practice of Nurse Practitioner Specialists in Mental Health in Quebec.
- (2019-2021) Nurse Practitioner Specialist in Mental Health representative for the University of Montreal.
- (2018) Drafting of the Medication Reconciliation Procedure at the Integrated Health and Social Services Center of Laval.
- (2016) Participation in the Alice Girard Symposium to promote a project aiming to integrate transcultural care into medical practice.
- (2007-2009) Volunteering at the A.N.A.I.M Hospital in Kamsar, Guinea.
What is your most unusual talent?
I did raise a few eyebrows when I told a friend ‘my rabbit is asking for kale, not lettuce’. Maybe there is a little bit of Dr.Dolittle in me? I seem to have a knack for understanding what animals are trying to communicate. I think one of the pillars of a better world is education and education is not only important for humans, but also with animals as well. Training animals properly begins in being able to understand what they are trying to communicate and I think having grown up with dozens of family pets, I now am a little bit of an animal whisperer.
Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
I am fortunate to have lived in 6 different countries and visited over 20. However, my most memorable experience is going on a safari in Kenya when I was a teenager. There is something very magical about seeing so many animals in the wild.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
In 10 years, I hope to have opened a medical clinic focused on total body, mental and physical wellbeing. I also know for women, one’s appearance and one’s self-esteem are often linked. With this in mind, I have begun work in medical aesthetics and in the near future I would like to incorporate it into my practice. In 10 years time, I also hope to have seen more of this wonderful world we live in and experienced new cultures.
Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t asked?
In becoming Miss Universe Canada, my purpose is to use my voice to enact positive change in the world and inspire women to achieve their dreams. We can succeed at anything in life if we persevere. Being positive and determined is the key. I would also like to add how grateful and honoured I am to be able to take part in this competition.