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, sheB次元官网网址檇 provide a loving, secure home.
B次元官网网址淢y dad B次元官网网址� was a really good person, but he struggledB次元官网网址次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淗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.B次元官网网址�
Saine, now 54, has been married 29 years B次元官网网址� she met her husband 35 years ago on the day she arrived in Nanaimo B次元官网网址� and has three grown children and has had a 25-year career with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 Mrs. category contestant in this yearB次元官网网址檚 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. SheB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淢y dad was with a woman who was a saint,B次元官网网址� Saine said. B次元官网网址淪he took us on B次元官网网址� myself and my two brothers B次元官网网址� and she was an amazing role model for us and I miss her a lot B次元官网网址� she made a total difference B次元官网网址� at pivotal moments, at the beginning when youB次元官网网址檙e a teenager. There were really positive people in my life that guided where I was going.B次元官网网址�
Those influences will also guide SaineB次元官网网址檚 future.
B次元官网网址淲hat IB次元官网网址檓 hoping to do when I grow up is work with families B次元官网网址� work with children, integrating families that are struggling, working with children and parents and keeping families together,B次元官网网址� 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 SaineB次元官网网址檚 alley.
B次元官网网址淲hen I was 17 I lived in Calgary and I was at a mall and they were asking for contestants for Miss Teen Calgary,B次元官网网址� Saine said.
A friend of herB次元官网网址檚 had competed in a local pageant and loved the experience. Saine, being shy, wondered if she could do it too.
B次元官网网址淚 was in the second or third from the table to sign up and I jammed, I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 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,B次元官网网址� she said.
This time around she has support from her family and her friend and sponsor Sybil Worthington, owner of Xcessoreyes Cosmetic.
B次元官网网址淭o me I look at sheB次元官网网址檚 representing everybody,B次元官网网址� Worthington said. B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a wonderful representation of a female B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 just a beautiful person inside and out.B次元官网网址�
Saine admitted sheB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 be afraid of who you are. DonB次元官网网址檛 be afraid of who you think you are. DonB次元官网网址檛 be afraid of what people think of you. ItB次元官网网址檚 how you feel about yourself and having the courage to stand up and do something that scares you, that youB次元官网网址檙e afraid to do and do it anyway,B次元官网网址� Saine said.
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