My interests include being out in nature, fitness, and using my creative skills. The outdoors plays a large part in my life. From hiking, kayaking, horse riding and camping, it is where I connect with what brings me the most peace – nature. I am a fitness enthusiast and also enjoy singing, acting, reading and writing. Travelling is another interest of mine, not only because I get to explore different parts of the world, but also because of how much I am able to learn from experiencing different cultures, interacting with people from all walks of life and observing how people around the world live. Being able to add to positive experiences in the lives of those around me is also something I enjoy doing. One smile, kind exchange or conversation can change the trajectory of someone’s day and in turn, the day of many people. I want to spread love everywhere I go.

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

I am currently enrolled in vocal lessons to help improve my vocal range, strength and technique. I have recently taken part in acting courses and will resume them again after the pageant. I am also trained in adult and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and I am qualified to administer vaccinations.

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

I grew up playing tennis, swimming, skiing and figure skating. I joined the cross country team in middle school and participated in the basketball team through middle school and high school. I am now involved in horse riding, a skill I have wanted to learn since I was a child and plan on rejoining my local tennis club this summer.

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

My grandmother has had a tremendous amount of influence on my life. Having grown up with her and having what is a unique opportunity in the West of living together has provided me with a relationship and friendship that has made me who I am today. She is not only one of my greatest teachers, she is also my best friend. There is no one word that can encompass how much I have learned from her; from skills to attributes I consider values in my life. She is my guiding light. No matter the question, the situation or decision, the advice she gives me makes everything more simple, clear and manageable.I grew up not having been told stories from books but stories created or known by my grandmother, stories I can pass on to my children and think of fondly. Having an elder in my life has provided me with an incredible amount of wisdom, support, love and care. I feel that the bond between a child and their grandparents is unlike any others and I am exceptionally fortunate to have her in my life.

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

For university, though I moved abroad, away from home, family and friends, I was able to navigate the United Kingdom, learn the culture, understand the people, but most importantly, grow into myself. A strong community of friends, colleagues and people who I now consider family are just across the pond and knowing how I am able to move in the world, cultivate strong connections and be grounded in myself is what I am most proud of. Alongside all of this, I was also able to complete the Masters of Pharmacy degree with first class honours in the United Kingdom.

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 once got lost at sea while snorkelling. The cruise ship I was on had stopped at an island and the teen club I was part of had gone out for a snorkelling trip. At one point, I had asked someone to stay behind with me as my muscles were cramping and I needed to stop and wade. I put my face in the water and watched a school of fish swim by for what seemed to be five seconds but when I resurfaced, the whole group was gone. Though it was barely noticeable, I managed to locate a beach on the horizon and so began the longest swim of my life.

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

Since I was young, I knew that my career would consist of many avenues. There are many things in life that I want to create. I have worked in community pharmacies and have seen the impact that healthcare professionals placed in the community have on the physical and mental well-being of patients. Hence, I want to own and operate my own community pharmacies where patients will be able to enjoy a peaceful setting which will include a pharmacy, along with a cafe, a flower shop and a library. I am currently working towards achieving my Canadian pharmacist license, after which I would like to establish my unique pharmacies. Financial freedom is something I am striving towards and I believe that owning my own business will help me reach my goal.

My other career ambitions are to become an actress and fashion model. Since childhood, I have always felt an undeniable pull towards the Arts. These two pursuits have evoked a sense of purpose and fulfillment in me whenever I have had the opportunity to participate in them. The ability to be a storyteller and create feelings, emotion and connection in people through these forms is wonderful as the audience is able to have an experience within themselves through a character or persona that is brought to life. I have felt the impact of great films, television shows and photos and I wish to use my skills to invoke the same feelings in others.

I enrolled in acting courses over the last few months to help develop my skills and will be continuing these again after the pageant. I am in the process of completing my demo reel, with which I will apply to agencies in order to be signed. While in the process of distributing the demo reel, I will apply to audition for roles I can find independently to gain exposure and continue to enhance my skills. In terms of bringing my modelling endeavour to life, I will be putting an updated portfolio together to continue applying with. Along with applying for agencies, I plan to take the portfolio to boutique shops in the Greater Toronto Area and connect with companies online to work with them and bring their vision and products to life.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

I have always been very in tune with my creativity and love the artistic side of life. Time and time again, applying myself in forms of art is where I have felt the most fulfilled. It is because of this that my dream job is to be an actress and model. Another role I would like to include here is being a mother. It is a part of life that I have always looked forward to and I include it here because once I have children, it will be my job to do the best I can to help raise children who are healthy overall.

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

I was raised in a quiet city neighbourhood with a lovely front yard, space to play and a spacious backyard. My childhood consisted of a lot of time outdoors and in nature with my dad, who would whisk my family and I away to the countryside every weekend. Hikes, cycling, riding horses, learning skills in our neighbourhood, like rollerblading, spending time with my cousins and cozy evenings at home watching a program together were some of my favourite things to do while growing up. My childhood also consisted of various extracurricular activities such as piano lessons, singing and various sports. I love to sing and can recall putting together a show with my sister and cousins for my family. As a creative child, I also used to write stories, oftentimes getting lost in the story while writing, as if I were there, watching it all happen. Frequenting the bookstore often, picking up far too many novels and my sister and I piling them into my dad’s arms was a major part of my childhood as well. I am blessed to have also grown up travelling, a factor that I believe has also shaped me into the woman I am today. Having the ability to learn from new places, cultures and people has contributed to my open-mindedness, flamed my curiosity of life and equipped me with the readiness to speak to just about anyone. It has also made me so grateful for every aspect of my life.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

Though this was not a typical job, one of the after-school clubs I was part of was the Yearbook Club. I was a photographer for my high school yearbook for three years. It was one of the most unique school clubs I have ever been part of, speaking to people from many different programs and grades and navigating days for club photos with club leaders or teachers. It helped raise my confidence and taught me about rejection and the power of not taking things personally.

List any volunteering you have done.

I have been volunteering at a horse stable in Caledon, Ontario. It has added joy and play into my life but also lets me give back to nature and care for animals that add so much to my life.

What is your most unusual talent?

Singing a song about any topic is an unusual talent of mine. When I was younger, a word or phrase would often lead me to sing about it.

Where is the most interesting place you have been to?

The most interesting place I have ever been to is Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is unlike anything I had ever seen or known to exist before. While at the beautifully maintained and well-preserved 2.2 million acre park, I got to experience areas which seemed other-worldly like the Grand Prismatic Spring and Fountain Paint Pots, gushing geysers, being sprayed by Old Faithful and the dynamic between the bison and their young. It is nature at its finest. Surrounded by mountains and silence, I experienced the quietness of the world. How it once was.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

In ten years, I see myself owning and operating my own pharmacies alongside being a fashion model, acting in Hollywood films and living somewhere surrounded by nature with my family. I want to be a very present mother and am looking forward to spending time bringing up my children nestled in nature, near both mountains and beaches, growing some of our own food and having some animals. Spreading the message about self-love is also very important to me and I believe that as I grow, mature and learn through the rest of my life, I will be able to use my knowledge and platforms to raise awareness of the importance of self-love, how to implement it and the difference it can make for the better in everyone’s lives, especially in that of women.

Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t asked?

I want to use my voice to help raise awareness among girls and women around Canada and the world about the power of self-love, a concept that has changed my life. Self-love can significantly impact lives by changing the way people view themselves, the choices they make and the standards they uphold for themselves. My mission is to raise awareness around this topic and help women see how truly incredible they are.