Vivian Santizo
Height: 5’5
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Languages: English, Spanish
Occupation: Student (Communication and Media Studies at Carleton University)
Vivian Santizo, a proud Canadian hailing from Toronto, Ontario, carries with her the rich cultural heritage instilled by her immigrant Guatemalan parents. Growing up, Vivian immersed herself in the vibrant world of the performing arts and sports, dedicating her time to pursuits like cheerleading and singing. Through relentless determination and unwavering dedication, she achieved remarkable milestones, including competing at Cheerleading Worlds and gracing the stage of competitions like The Next Star. Inspired by her own journey, Vivian found her true purpose in coaching, where she discovered a profound calling to guide and empower others in realizing their aspirations.
Currently pursuing a degree in Communication and Media studies at Carleton University, Vivian is driven by a fervent desire to utilize her platform as a future television personality to foster positive dialogue and effect meaningful change. Alongside her academic pursuits, she remains deeply engaged in her community, lending her time and support to various charitable endeavors, including volunteering with organizations such as The Ottawa Mission, the Mississauga food bank, and the Canadian Hispanic Congress.
What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?
I enjoy volunteering in my community, and enjoy doing any kind of physical activity however i am most passionate about dancing as it allows me to express myself in a different way.
List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
Currently taking Latin Dance classes and hoping to join a performance team in the near future.
In what sports, if any, have you participated?
I have been a cheerleader for 13 years and i believe it shaped me to be the perservierent person I am today.
Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?
The person who has been the biggest influence on me in my life is my childhood cheerleading coach Jasmine Tessier. Growing up I was not always the best athlete on the team, developing skills in cheerleading always took me a little longer than the other girls and that always made me feel less. It is something that made me feel insecure being in such a competitive sport. However, having Coach Jasmine by my side changed my outlook on life completely. She taught me that we should never feel less than anyone else because everyone learns things at a different pace and that is ok, we all have areas where we are stronger and areas where we can improve. Even the best athletes have passed through hardships but that does not make them any less great. Finally she taught me perseverance because no matter how many times I would fall on my face (literally) she would always be there to cheer me on and encourage me to try again, because its not about how many times you fall but how many times you can fall and get back up. Thanks to her I succeeded and fulfilled my cheerleading dreams, I achieved goals 9 year old me could not even imagine, all thanks to these incredible lessons I learned through hard work, dedication and my amazing coach in cheerleading and life, Jasmine.
What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?
My proudest personal accomplishment to date is having the privilege to attend an amazing university. Being a child from an immigrant household one thing my parent wanted most for me is a quality education, and I am thankful to be able to fulfill that dream for myself and my parents.
What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?
As a child my mom made me take piano lessons, however what I wanted to do more than anything was sing, so my mother enrolled me in singing classes with my piano teacher. The teacher was very old school and insisted I sing opera so for about a year I dedicated my time to singing opera. I eventually found a better suited vocal coach for my goals and ended up performing in many events and concerts. A particularly interesting one was Filipino fest where I sang an entire song in Tagalog, a language I do not speak at all. It was definitely a challenge as I knew I was going to be performing for people who spoke the language and could possibly judge me, but I risked it all and sang my heart out. To this day it was one of the best experiences I could have asked for because not only did the crowd love it but it made me realize that some risks are worth taking.
What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to become a television host. I am working to make this career a reality by finishing my university degree, as well as gaining experience through being a television host at events such as Latin Awards Canada. I further continue my education outside of university by working alongside my Coach Silvia to strengthen my public speaking and soft skills through an integral education program.
What would be your “dream job” in life?
My dream job in life is to be Miss Universe Canada.
Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I grew up in a beautiful house in Mississauga Ontario. I am grateful to say my childhood was the best any child could ask for. I had food on my table, parents who loved me and sacrificed all they could so that I could have a good life. I made friends everywhere I went because as a child I was very outgoing and friendly. I of course had my fair share of bullying because of my weight however I never let it get me down. I grew up with three strong intelligent sisters who always reminded me that beauty comes from within and external beauty eventually fades therefore what is inside is what matters most. They encouraged me to look at the positive things in life, and focus on the people who make me happy, not those who criticize me. This allowed me to keep my confidence up and helped me stay strong even when times were tough. This positive outlook on life is something I have taken with me to this day and is what I would like to transmit on my journey through Miss Universe Canada.
List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
An interesting job I’ve had is getting to work with charities such as SOS children and Plan international, where I went door to door collecting donations. It is the most rewarding because everyday I would wake up knowing I helped change someone’s life in one way or another.
List any volunteering you have done.
I have volunteered with many charities such as The Ottawa Mission where I made food for the hungry, Mississauga Food bank where I sorted out food for the food bank, and finally with the Canadian Hispanic Congress where I created content for newcomers to Canada who were seeking resources.
What is your most unusual talent?
my most unusual talent is being able to move my ears on command
Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
The most interesting place I have been to is the Nasca lines in Peru. No one knows how they got there because they are different shapes and they’re so big you need to climb many stairs or see them through a helicopter. The locals say it was aliens but everyone has their theories, it is one of the most beautiful and interesting things i’ve ever seen in my life. Definitely a must see.
What do you hope to be doing in ten years?
In the next 10 years I see myself working my dream career of being a television host, and having achieved my goal of representing Canada in Miss universe. I hope to inspire everyone I meet on this journey that anything is possible if you fully surrender and believe in yourself.I see myself with a beautiful family of my own where I can pass down values and lessons I have learned along the way. These however are rough plans because life doesn’t always give you what you want when you want it, therefore I am always open to change and willing to embrace it.
Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t asked?
My name “Vivian” which means full of life and thats how I like to live out everyday.