What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?

One of my greatest passions is exploring the world, and I mean that in the fullest sense of the word. From the cobblestone streets of Krakow’s Old Town, to a humble village in Cebu, Philippines, where life was beautifully simple and community was everything. From the vibrant energy of Mexico, to the rich, ancient history of Lebanon. From the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul, where two continents meet and reminds you how beautifully connected we all are. To the mountains of Calabria, Italy, where food is love and every meal tells a story. I have experienced the purest kindness in the Dominican Republic, the most infectious joy in Jamaica, and a kind of stillness in Thailand that stayed with me long after I left. And you can’t forget America, New York, the city that never sleeps and dares you to dream bigger. Across 10 countries, and multiple continents, the world has been my greatest teacher. Every destination, every culture, every person I have met along the way has handed me a lesson I could not have learned anywhere else. I believe deeply that travel is not just movement, it is transformation. And I am endlessly grateful for every corner of this earth that has shaped who I am!

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

I’m a lifelong learner at heart with a deep appreciation for the arts. I’ve trained with supermodel Coco Rocha in New York, I’m currently training and pursuing acting with Pro Actors Lab in Toronto, and receiving vocal coaching. I also hold a makeup certificate through Makeup by Mario, Mario Dedivanovic, renowned celebrity makeup artist, which gives me a strong advantage in preparing for events and shoots independently. As an amateur painter and creative, the arts have always been a personal sanctuary for me. Culturally, I grew up belly-dancing, which gave me a deep connection to movement and performance from a young age. I’ve also trained in hip-hop dance, broadening my range as a performer.

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

Growing up, I played basketball, which instilled in me the value of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance from a young age. The lessons I learned on the court, showing up, pushing through challenges, working through a collective goal, are values I continue to carry with me in everything I do. While I wouldn’t call myself a super athlete, I have a genuine love and appreciation for sports. I’m a big fan of the Toronto Raptors, and the Blue Jays, go Jays, go Raptors!! I truly believe sports culture brings communities together in a truly special way.

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

One of the most influential people in my life is Laura Babb, former manager at McMaster Children’s Hospital, where she oversaw the department of Ambulatory Services and Clinics. I had the privilege of training under her as an administrative professional, and her leadership, empathy, and unwavering dedication to serving others showed me what it truly means with purpose and integrity. Through watching her navigate challenges with grace, lead with kindness, and align her values with her service to others, I learned that true leadership is not about the title or position, it is about how you make people feel and the standard you set simply by showing up with integrity every single day.

Her example continues to guide me in every area of my life, and I carry her influence with me into every room I enter.

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

My proudest accomplishment is living a life in constant pursuit of giving back. For me, success isn’t defined by what I achieve, but by what I am able to do for others.

Through my candle company, I transformed my creativity into purpose, sponsoring the education of three young girls in Turkiye, volunteering with Global Medic to support food bank initiatives, and distributing meals to those experiencing homelessness in my own community. This cause is deeply personal, growing up in Canada, my own family relied on food banks, and I never take for granted the opportunity to now be on the giving side of that.

The accomplishment that lives most deeply in my heart is delivering 180 educational resources, tote bags, and raincoats to children in Cebu, Philippines, a community that endures devastating typhoons. Through Leap Global Voices, I have also led empowerment workshops across Canadian Communities, encouraging young people to dream out loud and believe in their futures.

Service is not a chapter of my story, it is the thread that runs through all of it. And I hope to spend the rest of my life finding new ways to do more.

What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?

The most interesting thing about me is that I was never supposed to be here.

I was born into a world that had already written my story for me, a small town in Turkiye, an early marriage, a life without education, without travel, without the freedom to explore who I truly was. My own grandmother never went to school past elementary. My mother was the first woman in her immediate family to attend college. The path laid out for me looked nothing like the life I am living today.

But then came the day our family walked across the bridge from Buffalo to Niagara Falls, seeking refuge in Canada with two suitcases and $500. We were two families, women, children, suitcases in hand, walking across a bridge into an entirely new life. Strangers driving by saw us and without hesitation, pulled over. They loaded our suitcases into their truck, drove the women and children safely across, and asked for nothing in return. The moment of pure human kindness from complete strangers welcomed us into this country before Canada even had.

I have built my entire life scratch. No network, no connections. I worked countless jobs, pursued every opportunity placed before me, and refused to let my beginning define my end. Today I travel the world, pursue my passions, and stand on stages I once could not have imagined.

I am a proud Turkish-Canadian woman, and I believe I am a living representation of the Canadian dream, proof that where you begin does not determine where you are going.

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

My career ambition build a platform rooted in storytelling, service, and impact. I want to be a trusted Canadian voice in media, as a television host, public speaker, and eventually an author, while continuing to expand my humanitarian work both domestically and internationally. Through Leap Global Voices I am leading empowerment workshops in Canadian communities. Through my candle company, I am funding education and community initiatives. Through my content series, I am already telling stories that matter, having interviewed inspiring Canadians, including an Olympian. I have delivered resources to children in the Philippines, volunteered with Global Medic, and represented Canada on an international stage.

Every step I have taken has been intentional and purposeful, building a humanitarian resume, media presence, and the lived experience that I believe a true leader needs. It is the next chapter of a journey I have been faithfully building, and this platform would allow for me to take everything I have worked for, and to amplify it in a way nothing else could.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

My dream job is to occupy a significant space in media and in service, and I believe the two are deeply connected. As a television host, storyteller, and trusted Canadian voice. I want to share stories that move people, challenge perspectives, and inspire action. I want to deliver a TED talk, host my own show, and one day write a book that captures the intricacies of a life shaped by immigration, resilience, and an unshakeable belief in possibility. I also envision a future where my humanitarian work and lived experience lead me toward a diplomatic, or government role, because representing a country is a responsibility I would never take lightly.

Miss Universe Canada would be the catalyst that opens all of these doors, lending me credibility and visibility to truly be heard, not just as a model or pageant titleholder, but as a serious, purposeful Canadian woman with something real to say and the determination to say it.

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

I was raised across two countries, and several cities. Born in Edremit, a small town of just 5,000 people in Turkiye, spending my early years between Edremit and Antalya, before my family made the courageous decision to immigrate to Canada and settle in downtown Hamilton, Ontario.

Change was the one constant of my childhood. My parents worked tirelessly as immigrants building a new life from scratch, and as the eldest daughter I naturally stepped into the role of a mini mother, helping raise my sibling and serving as the bridge between my family and the world around us as the most fluent English speaker in our home.

It was a simple, humble childhood, but an extraordinarily rich one. It taught me the value of hard work, deep gratitude, and to never take a single opportunity for granted. Turkiye raised me, Canada shaped me, and together they made me exactly who I am.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

One of the most unusual jobs I have ever had was working at a dry cleaners one summer, pressing shirts and ironing pants in what felt like a sauna. While it was 35 degrees outside, it was closer to 55 degrees inside, and yet I showed up every single day with a smile. It was humbling, character building, and one of the funniest chapters of my life. It taught me early on that no job is beneath you and that hard work in any form is always worth being proud of.

List any volunteering you have done.

• Global Medic
• Halloween for Hunger
• Free the Children
• SOS Children Villages
• SashBear Foundation
• United Way
• Leap Global Voices (founder)

What is your most unusual talent?

One of my most unique talents is belly-dancing, an art form deeply woven into my Turkish heritage that I grew up with from a very young age. For me it is not just a dance, but a living connection to my roots, my culture, and the women in my family who moved with the same grace and pride before me. There is something incredibly powerful about carrying a piece of your culture in your body, and belly-dancing has always been my most intimate expression of where I come from.

Where is the most interesting place you have been to?

The most interesting place I have ever been to is the Philippines. While many people visit for its stunning beaches and breathtaking landscapes, my experience there went far beyond tourism. I had the privilege of travelling into a rural village community in Cebu, where life looked completely different from anything I had ever known, no excess, no distractions, just the purest form of human connection and community.

What struck me most was the joy. Despite facing the devastating reality of typhoons and limited resources, the people I met radiated a warm and happiness that I have never forgotten. It completely redefined my understanding of what it means to live a rich life.

The Philippines did not just interest me, it completely transformed me. And it deepened my commitment for showing up for communities that the world does not always see.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

In 10 years, I hope to be living a life that is as full in love as it is in purpose. I dream of building a home with a partner who matches my energy and my heart, and of becoming a mother, because I believe that raising children with intention, courage, and love is one of the most powerful contributions a person can make to the world.

Professionally, I see myself established in media as a television host, public speaker, and author, having delivered my TED talk, shared my story on international stages, and grown LEAP Global Voices into a globally recognized empowerment movement.

My primary focus will always be on the people, my family, my community, and every young woman who needs to hear that where she begins does not determine where she is going.

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

I am guided by faith, curiosity, and an unshakeable belief that life is an extraordinary gift. I am a model, content creator, dancer, music lover, artist and life long learner, and the common thread through all of it is a deep commitment to showing up fully, whether on a stage, within a community, or simply for the people around me.

A recent highlight was being invited as a special guest by Turkish Airlines to their Iftar dinner during Ramadan, a deeply meaningful full circle moment as a proud Turkish-Canadian woman, and a reminder that life has a beautiful way of honouring the journey when you keep moving forward with purpose.

My greatest hope is to serve as an example that beginnings do not determine destinations. That dreams are not too big, they are simply waiting to be claimed. And that a life lived with passion, faith, and genuine service to others is the most extraordinary life of all.