Life pitched Michelle Saine curveballs from the first inning.
Her grandparents adopted her at birth. They cared for her until she was six when their health failed and she was placed in care of her biological father. He suffered from bipolar disorder, and she and her brothers moved multiple times.
Without the continuity of a stable home, Saine struggled with forming long-term relationships and a strong sense of family and security.
Saine promised herself if she were to ever marry, she害羞草研究所檇 provide a loving, secure home.
害羞草研究所淢y dad 害羞草研究所� was a really good person, but he struggled害羞草研究所π卟菅芯克鶟 she said. 害羞草研究所淗e did the best he could, for sure, but it made me who I am and it made me strong and it made me want to have a different life.害羞草研究所�
Saine, now 54, has been married 29 years 害羞草研究所� she met her husband 35 years ago on the day she arrived in Nanaimo 害羞草研究所� and has three grown children and has had a 25-year career with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is Nanaimo害羞草研究所檚 Mrs. category contestant in this year害羞草研究所檚 Miss B.C. pageant.
In her work, Saine faces societal issues. Social housing and working with young people are are important to her and she plans to complete her degree in social work. She害羞草研究所檚 also trained in suicide prevention and credits much of her success to the positive influences from people who appeared at critical times in her life, including her grandparents and her stepmother Liz Reddick.
害羞草研究所淢y dad was with a woman who was a saint,害羞草研究所� Saine said. 害羞草研究所淪he took us on 害羞草研究所� myself and my two brothers 害羞草研究所� and she was an amazing role model for us and I miss her a lot 害羞草研究所� she made a total difference 害羞草研究所� at pivotal moments, at the beginning when you害羞草研究所檙e a teenager. There were really positive people in my life that guided where I was going.害羞草研究所�
Those influences will also guide Saine害羞草研究所檚 future.
害羞草研究所淲hat I害羞草研究所檓 hoping to do when I grow up is work with families 害羞草研究所� work with children, integrating families that are struggling, working with children and parents and keeping families together,害羞草研究所� she said.
The pageant happens in Fort Langley on Monday, July 2, but in the days leading up to it, contestants participate in workshops on public speaking, interviewing, etiquette and manners, self-defence, personal expression, self-esteem awareness, modelling choreography, on-stage presence, lifestyle and leadership. With a lifelong interest in education and personal development, the pageant is up Saine害羞草研究所檚 alley.
害羞草研究所淲hen I was 17 I lived in Calgary and I was at a mall and they were asking for contestants for Miss Teen Calgary,害羞草研究所� Saine said.
A friend of her害羞草研究所檚 had competed in a local pageant and loved the experience. Saine, being shy, wondered if she could do it too.
害羞草研究所淚 was in the second or third from the table to sign up and I jammed, I just couldn害羞草研究所檛 do it. I thought, no way, so here I am, years later and I thought, you know, this might be a really good thing to do. Face your fears,害羞草研究所� she said.
This time around she has support from her family and her friend and sponsor Sybil Worthington, owner of Xcessoreyes Cosmetic.
害羞草研究所淭o me I look at she害羞草研究所檚 representing everybody,害羞草研究所� Worthington said. 害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 a wonderful representation of a female 害羞草研究所� she害羞草研究所檚 just a beautiful person inside and out.害羞草研究所�
Saine admitted she害羞草研究所檚 as terrified facing the prospect of walking across a stage in high heels and speaking publicly as she was when she was 17, but pushing through the fear is part of her message.
害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 be afraid of who you are. Don害羞草研究所檛 be afraid of who you think you are. Don害羞草研究所檛 be afraid of what people think of you. It害羞草研究所檚 how you feel about yourself and having the courage to stand up and do something that scares you, that you害羞草研究所檙e afraid to do and do it anyway,害羞草研究所� Saine said.
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