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, she91裸聊视频檇 provide a loving, secure home.
91裸聊视频淢y dad 91裸聊视频� was a really good person, but he struggled91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淗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.91裸聊视频�
Saine, now 54, has been married 29 years 91裸聊视频� she met her husband 35 years ago on the day she arrived in Nanaimo 91裸聊视频� and has three grown children and has had a 25-year career with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is Nanaimo91裸聊视频檚 Mrs. category contestant in this year91裸聊视频檚 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. She91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淢y dad was with a woman who was a saint,91裸聊视频� Saine said. 91裸聊视频淪he took us on 91裸聊视频� myself and my two brothers 91裸聊视频� and she was an amazing role model for us and I miss her a lot 91裸聊视频� she made a total difference 91裸聊视频� at pivotal moments, at the beginning when you91裸聊视频檙e a teenager. There were really positive people in my life that guided where I was going.91裸聊视频�
Those influences will also guide Saine91裸聊视频檚 future.
91裸聊视频淲hat I91裸聊视频檓 hoping to do when I grow up is work with families 91裸聊视频� work with children, integrating families that are struggling, working with children and parents and keeping families together,91裸聊视频� 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 Saine91裸聊视频檚 alley.
91裸聊视频淲hen I was 17 I lived in Calgary and I was at a mall and they were asking for contestants for Miss Teen Calgary,91裸聊视频� Saine said.
A friend of her91裸聊视频檚 had competed in a local pageant and loved the experience. Saine, being shy, wondered if she could do it too.
91裸聊视频淚 was in the second or third from the table to sign up and I jammed, I just couldn91裸聊视频檛 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,91裸聊视频� she said.
This time around she has support from her family and her friend and sponsor Sybil Worthington, owner of Xcessoreyes Cosmetic.
91裸聊视频淭o me I look at she91裸聊视频檚 representing everybody,91裸聊视频� Worthington said. 91裸聊视频淪he91裸聊视频檚 a wonderful representation of a female 91裸聊视频� she91裸聊视频檚 just a beautiful person inside and out.91裸聊视频�
Saine admitted she91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 be afraid of who you are. Don91裸聊视频檛 be afraid of who you think you are. Don91裸聊视频檛 be afraid of what people think of you. It91裸聊视频檚 how you feel about yourself and having the courage to stand up and do something that scares you, that you91裸聊视频檙e afraid to do and do it anyway,91裸聊视频� Saine said.
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
