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含羞草研究社檇 provide a loving, secure home.
含羞草研究社淢y dad 含羞草研究社� was a really good person, but he struggled含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 she said. 含羞草研究社淗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.含羞草研究社�
Saine, now 54, has been married 29 years 含羞草研究社� she met her husband 35 years ago on the day she arrived in Nanaimo 含羞草研究社� and has three grown children and has had a 25-year career with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is Nanaimo含羞草研究社檚 Mrs. category contestant in this year含羞草研究社檚 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含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淢y dad was with a woman who was a saint,含羞草研究社� Saine said. 含羞草研究社淪he took us on 含羞草研究社� myself and my two brothers 含羞草研究社� and she was an amazing role model for us and I miss her a lot 含羞草研究社� she made a total difference 含羞草研究社� at pivotal moments, at the beginning when you含羞草研究社檙e a teenager. There were really positive people in my life that guided where I was going.含羞草研究社�
Those influences will also guide Saine含羞草研究社檚 future.
含羞草研究社淲hat I含羞草研究社檓 hoping to do when I grow up is work with families 含羞草研究社� work with children, integrating families that are struggling, working with children and parents and keeping families together,含羞草研究社� 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含羞草研究社檚 alley.
含羞草研究社淲hen I was 17 I lived in Calgary and I was at a mall and they were asking for contestants for Miss Teen Calgary,含羞草研究社� Saine said.
A friend of her含羞草研究社檚 had competed in a local pageant and loved the experience. Saine, being shy, wondered if she could do it too.
含羞草研究社淚 was in the second or third from the table to sign up and I jammed, I just couldn含羞草研究社檛 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,含羞草研究社� she said.
This time around she has support from her family and her friend and sponsor Sybil Worthington, owner of Xcessoreyes Cosmetic.
含羞草研究社淭o me I look at she含羞草研究社檚 representing everybody,含羞草研究社� Worthington said. 含羞草研究社淪he含羞草研究社檚 a wonderful representation of a female 含羞草研究社� she含羞草研究社檚 just a beautiful person inside and out.含羞草研究社�
Saine admitted she含羞草研究社檚 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.
含羞草研究社淒on含羞草研究社檛 be afraid of who you are. Don含羞草研究社檛 be afraid of who you think you are. Don含羞草研究社檛 be afraid of what people think of you. It含羞草研究社檚 how you feel about yourself and having the courage to stand up and do something that scares you, that you含羞草研究社檙e afraid to do and do it anyway,含羞草研究社� Saine said.
photos@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
