Hi there. My name is Victoria Saunders and I am Miss Canada United Nation. I am funding for my trip to Jamaica to compete for Miss United Nation International. This is where it all began…
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I was raised in a small town called Sutton, Ontario, which is north of Toronto. I guess you could say my very first “pageant” was the baby show at the Pefferlaw Summerfest. I won 1st place for 9-12 month old girls for (trying) to soothe a crying fellow competitor. I was always a very personable and vocal child; always wanting to talk to people, give hugs and share stories. Ever since I was about 2, I wanted to be a model. My mom was really worried about this. She really didn’t want me to get caught up in the “lifestyle” of dieting and trying to be “perfect.” We moved to Cambridge, Ontario when I was about 4. When I was 6, my mom met Donna Schmidt-Kirk who is the president of an agency called Expressions Model and Talent Agency. Donna suggested that I enter a local pageant called “Princess of Cambridge” to see if I would enjoy the on-stage experience. On the day of the pageant, my mom was getting worried that I was getting my hopes up. So she told me “Tori, many of these girls have a lot more experience than you. Don’t be too upset if you don’t end up winning.” Knowing this made me try that much harder. And the hard work paid off, because I was crowned the "Princess of Cambridge". To me, it wasn’t just about doing the pageants; it was about having the ability to make a difference in the community. When I won Princess of Cambridge, my mom encouraged me to choose a platform, a charity to assist and represent. After some discussion, I decided to match my love of animals and my love of bowling and, with the help of my mom, created “The Victoria Saunders Bowl-A-Rama to Support the Cambridge Humane Society”, I was only 7 years old! Kids between the ages of 5 and 13 would sign up to collect pledges, then meet me in April for a day of bowling, pizza, games and PRIZES and every participate got a prize! 100% of the proceeds were donated to the Humane Society. Many local businesses helped out with some form of donation. In the very first year, we had 43 kids participate and by the 8th year we had 112 kids! In the 8 years, we raised over $56,000 for the Cambridge Humane Society. It was a lot of hard work, but with the help of my family and friends, it paid off every year! My motto for the event was “Kids can make a difference!”
WHERE AM I NOW?
Everyone grows up eventually. After the Princess of Cambridge pageant, I continued modelling and doing pageants here and there. I also took acting courses, and was in Oliver the Musical at a local theatre when I was 8, plus a couple of independent films. After my reign as Miss Teen Ontario Galaxy at 14, I decided to take a little break from pageants, although I continued modelling. Today, I am teaching modelling to kids between ages 4 and 12, doing a lot of bridal modelling, while starting the Broadcast Television program at college. I couldn’t be busier, but I couldn’t be happier!
THE UNITED NATION PAGEANT
I was chosen to represent Canada at the United Nation Pageant for the Miss category. Before accepting the role, I researched the pageant and discovered that this pageant isn’t about your looks or body, but about your personality and sense of community, which was EXACTLY what I wanted. There is no bikini portion, but a fitness section instead and no on-stage question. The talent division is just for fun.
It is perfect. Being Miss Canada UN allows me to be a role model to men and women everywhere, and helps me bring wareness to areas that need to be addressed.
My personal platform is now women’s issues. Being Miss Canada UN also gives me the opportunity to go to Jamaica and compete for Miss United Nation International
in October with girls from all over the globe!
I received a few corporate sponsors, but now it's time to reach out to my online community! If you choose to sponsor me for my journey as Miss Canada United Nation to the Miss United Nation International pageant in Jamaica, I will be sure to show the world what Canada is really made of!
Canadian singer Suzie McNeil once said "You can move mountains with dreams, the higher you climb, the better it gets, and you will see things you will never forget, if you just believe."
