1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,000 Welcome back everyone to the ninth episode of the Rejected Premium Podcast. 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,880 This is my first episode that I'm recording in 2025 and I gotta say I'm excited to see 3 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:12,840 what this year has in store for the podcast. 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:16,840 There will definitely be more rejection talk this year which I often say is probably not 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,920 the most pleasant topic for a conversation but this podcast is all about showing how 6 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:25,000 rejection is often redirection and it is not innately negative. 7 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,280 In fact, it can lead us to personal and professional growth and could be viewed as a potential 8 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:30,280 opportunity. 9 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:35,560 In today's episode we have Ariana Ramsey, the Miss Teenage Canada of 2024 joining us. 10 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:40,520 Ariana embodies passion and ambition transitioning from modeling to pageantry and now embracing 11 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,880 academia with a Bachelor of Commerce in Fall 2025. 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:48,280 She dreams of merging business with healthcare by establishing an ultrasound clinic. 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,680 As a half-Philippina, she aims to break cultural barriers and inspire others as a strong entrepreneur. 14 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:58,120 Growing up with a photographer father, Ariana developed a passion for the camera, now as 15 00:00:58,120 --> 00:01:03,080 an international representative, she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact through initiatives 16 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:04,880 like Love Yourself and Hero. 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:09,640 She champions body positivity, health awareness, and fights bullying worldwide. 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,640 In this episode we will discuss Ariana's journey in the modeling and pageant industry. 19 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:18,040 Talk about the rejections she has faced along her path and what advice she has for the audience 20 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,680 for overcoming rejections and building resilience. 21 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,200 Ariana, you're one impressive woman. 22 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,640 It is a true honor having you on the podcast. 23 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,600 Thank you so much for making the time out of your busy schedule to record this episode. 24 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:34,400 I truly appreciate it and we will discuss a lot of things today but first tell me, how 25 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:36,000 do you feel about doing today's episode? 26 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:41,120 Oh my goodness, I'm feeling so excited to do today's episode. 27 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:46,120 I am just honored that you're having me on to be able to talk about my experience, my 28 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,120 opportunities that I have. 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,040 So honestly I'm just feeling really blessed. 30 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:51,040 So thank you. 31 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:52,680 Yeah, thank you so much. 32 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Thank you for being here. 33 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:58,160 Before we get into more details about your story, I want to get to know more about your 34 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,040 start in modeling and pageantry. 35 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:05,320 You were just a kid when you first entered the modeling pageant world. 36 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,720 Can you describe what was it like when you first started out? 37 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:12,280 How did it feel when you first started out in the industry and how have you even led 38 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,240 to run from Miss Teenage Canada? 39 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:20,480 Yeah, I love this question honestly because people find it really funny when I first answer 40 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:22,720 it and you'll figure out why. 41 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:27,800 So my dad was a photographer as we found out in the introduction. 42 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:32,560 So I started off as this little model whenever he needed a test shoot done or anything like 43 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:36,840 that and I grew to love being in front of the camera. 44 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:44,400 And then it kind of slowed down after that and my friends decided to do a Miss Teen Calorie 45 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:46,680 pageant and that was when I got older. 46 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:53,400 I was in my early teens but I was so against it. 47 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:54,400 Interesting. 48 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:55,400 Right? 49 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:02,440 People will find it funny now that I'm doing pageants most of my time and I was so against 50 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:03,440 it. 51 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:04,520 My mom was trying to push me. 52 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:08,000 I was like, nope, you will not be on that stage. 53 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,000 But I ended up getting convinced. 54 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:18,480 I think what convinced me was just how radiant my friend was on the stage and how she's so 55 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:25,280 intelligent and at that point in the pageant and there still is one now, there's a test. 56 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:31,040 Unless a test, I think about like it's like a history test. 57 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:36,400 There's questions about the pageant, there's questions about Calorie and so she aced it, 58 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:38,200 she got the highest score. 59 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:43,280 She got that award and something about her on that stage not only beautiful but intelligent 60 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:48,080 made me want to join the pageant. 61 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:52,440 The following year, because I was younger, I joined Miss Junior Teen Calorie. 62 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:57,720 That was my first experience of rejection. 63 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,840 I ended up getting a title but it wasn't the main title. 64 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,040 At the time in that pageant, there was three demographic titles like there was Northern 65 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,800 Alberta, Central Alberta, Southern Alberta and then the Calorie title. 66 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:11,800 I ended up in Central Alberta. 67 00:04:11,800 --> 00:04:16,920 I was super excited about that even though I was the title I was aiming for, it's a 68 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:21,720 title and it was still an opportunity to showcase everything. 69 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,840 I signed with my first modeling agency after that. 70 00:04:24,840 --> 00:04:27,040 It kind of went on from there. 71 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:28,040 Yeah. 72 00:04:28,040 --> 00:04:29,040 How did they sign you? 73 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:32,200 Did they see you at the pageant or how did that happen? 74 00:04:32,200 --> 00:04:38,960 So my friend who won Miss Teen Calorie, she introduced me, she brought me to a casting 75 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:39,960 call. 76 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:40,960 Wow. 77 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:41,960 Okay. 78 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:48,280 And so now I believe that the pageant and the agency that I was with are in alliance 79 00:04:48,280 --> 00:04:50,400 sort of. 80 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:57,840 I could be completely wrong but if I won the pageant, there's potentially like a scholarship 81 00:04:57,840 --> 00:04:58,840 coming. 82 00:04:58,840 --> 00:05:02,360 I've heard of that, that some pageants give scholarships and that was a big incentive 83 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:03,360 for me. 84 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:04,360 I've never went for it obviously but like. 85 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:05,360 I think you should. 86 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,360 I still think you should. 87 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:07,360 Oh my gosh. 88 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:08,360 I don't know. 89 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:13,120 I don't know if I see myself or even could be that because you know, difficult, it's 90 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:14,120 tough. 91 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:16,200 I don't even know what I would be going into. 92 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:20,360 But the fact that they offer scholarships is just so cool and I think that's so beneficial 93 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:24,560 because financial barriers, well, everyone, not everyone but a lot of people experience 94 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:25,960 and it could just really help. 95 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:27,800 So yeah, anyways, I interrupted you. 96 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:28,800 Sorry. 97 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:35,720 I was interrupting you and I think you being worried about the unknown is what makes pageantry 98 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:37,920 so beautiful I think. 99 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:43,880 And like for me, for instance, when I went into the junior team Calgary, my mindset 100 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:48,360 before I went in, it wasn't on so excited for this pageant to be honest. 101 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,480 It was, I really don't want to do this. 102 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:57,560 The only reason I'm doing this is because I basically signed a photo with my mom saying, 103 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,680 oh, I'll do it for fun. 104 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:07,160 So I went into it, the closer I got, the more I was like, hmm, this is kind of interesting. 105 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:11,000 This is something I've never done before. 106 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:19,480 And I think in our society today, we get so used to doing things that are common and inside 107 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:21,880 of our little box. 108 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:29,040 And as a pageant girl, I've been forced to step outside of that box and do these things 109 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:34,360 that I honestly wouldn't have done before. 110 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:39,000 And I'm now doing them and it changed my life for the better. 111 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:45,360 So being a paid or being nervous about the unknown going into something, I think it 112 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,840 makes it so beautiful because it can turn into something so amazing. 113 00:06:48,840 --> 00:06:49,840 Yeah. 114 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:50,840 Yeah. 115 00:06:50,840 --> 00:06:51,840 That's true. 116 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:52,840 That's true. 117 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:55,680 I remember in one of the episodes, I talked about what it means to be resilient and how 118 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,180 to build resilience. 119 00:06:57,180 --> 00:07:02,480 And I mentioned something similar that a lot of being resilient and facing life is about 120 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:04,600 being comfortable with uncertainty. 121 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:08,520 And I guess that's what you have definitely had to learn when you were going into pageantry 122 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:16,360 and modeling, I guess, because both are uncertain fields and there's so much competition and 123 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:17,360 I would assume. 124 00:07:17,360 --> 00:07:22,480 Because many people struggle comparing themselves to others and that goes for every field and 125 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,480 that goes for everyone, like even just take social media. 126 00:07:25,480 --> 00:07:29,240 We're just living this era where people put out their best selves, but no one knows our 127 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:30,240 lows. 128 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:31,440 People just know our highs. 129 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:36,760 And I feel like maybe modeling pageantry is similar and people do compare themselves 130 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,480 to others and they can't help it sometimes. 131 00:07:39,480 --> 00:07:46,640 And how do you stay grounded and maintain that positive self-image and environment that can 132 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:47,640 be competitive? 133 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:55,960 Yeah, I think it's important to mention that when I first started, it wasn't. 134 00:07:55,960 --> 00:08:02,480 My headspace wasn't in a place where I was confident and I was able to be grounded and 135 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,320 I would be completely lying if I didn't say that I didn't struggle. 136 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:15,000 But as I continue to grow in the field and seeing other beautiful women around me and 137 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:22,560 other intelligent people, the more I traveled, it made me realize that everyone is beautiful 138 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:24,400 in their own ways. 139 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:32,120 And winning Miss Tee-Dee Canada this year, our slogan is be your own kind of beautiful. 140 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:39,480 So being able to resonate with that now makes me feel grounded knowing that if my eating 141 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:44,920 is off one day, it's not a complete setback. 142 00:08:44,920 --> 00:08:50,560 It's just a moment that I'm struggling with at the time and it doesn't make me any less 143 00:08:50,560 --> 00:08:51,560 beautiful. 144 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:52,560 Yeah. 145 00:08:52,560 --> 00:09:01,600 And so when I used to compare myself, it was always from a selfish point of view. 146 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:07,280 It was always, oh, it's about me and it's about me and it's about my body and it's about 147 00:09:07,280 --> 00:09:12,920 my hair and it's about my makeup and how I look at the time, but it goes beyond that. 148 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:18,440 And when you think about everyone else, when you're doing these things and you include 149 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,720 other perspectives, like think about, I'm getting my makeup done and I'm not feeling 150 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:23,720 it. 151 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,640 What about the makeup artist that's doing it? 152 00:09:25,640 --> 00:09:29,960 It's her beautiful work or the hairstylist that is doing my hair at the time. 153 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:31,960 I'm not feeling confident in my forehead. 154 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:33,360 It's not about my forehead. 155 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:39,600 It's about the hair that's on my head and having the privilege to get all of this done 156 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:41,600 in the first place. 157 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,000 And I think something that keeps me grounded is just understanding that all these opportunities 158 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:53,680 that are coming to me is a blessing and as an honor goes beyond my selfish outlook. 159 00:09:53,680 --> 00:10:01,720 And once I included other people in, honestly, in my thinking, it changed everything. 160 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:08,240 And having supportive organizations as well, like Miss Kimmage Canada or a community or 161 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:14,880 your family that really supports you when you're feeling down, whenever I felt like 162 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:19,960 I was struggling with my body image or I was struggling with my confidence, my family and 163 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:26,280 obviously Miss Teenage Canada, the organization, my national director, Michelle and my team, 164 00:10:26,280 --> 00:10:31,840 they're so supportive and I honestly wouldn't be here without them. 165 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,760 For me who's not in that kind of world in that industry, it's very easy to assume that 166 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:40,000 all these pageant organizations or all these modeling organizations are the same. 167 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:41,840 It's very easy to assume that. 168 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,440 But hearing you say that it is important to find organizations and there are organizations 169 00:10:46,440 --> 00:10:47,960 that can't support you. 170 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:50,920 They won't degrade you in any way. 171 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:56,920 They'll actually celebrate you for who you are and help you glow and come out in a beautiful 172 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:01,280 way and be yourself in that organization. 173 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:03,560 So I think that's a very important stereotype. 174 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:07,560 We're breaking down here because it's very easy to assume that. 175 00:11:07,560 --> 00:11:12,880 And I'm so glad that you found an organization that did support you because just as there 176 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,240 are good organizations, I can imagine that just in any field, there are organizations 177 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:23,400 that can be not so supportive and just a shout out to all the people who are involved with 178 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:25,120 those organizations. 179 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:26,680 You're not alone. 180 00:11:26,680 --> 00:11:32,280 You said that now you're good, but you did face those concerns with body image and it's 181 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:37,760 just something I'm not even in that field, but I remember myself experiencing those feelings 182 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:43,600 too, especially as I was growing up and my body was changing and it's ongoing too. 183 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:51,120 I'm 24 now and my body continues to change and it's something that you want to celebrate. 184 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:55,480 It's about what you said about being your own kind of beautiful and finding confidence 185 00:11:55,480 --> 00:11:56,480 in that. 186 00:11:56,480 --> 00:12:00,880 And I'm really glad that you found an organization and have support systems that can help you 187 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:05,320 reinforce that when you yourself feel down and you don't feel super beautiful because 188 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,480 we all have those moments. 189 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:09,960 We all do. 190 00:12:09,960 --> 00:12:14,560 So I appreciate you sharing that. 191 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:19,640 And I guess relating to that question, do you think you ever faced rejections or feelings 192 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,440 of rejection or self doubt in the industry? 193 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:23,520 Yeah, did you ever experience those? 194 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,400 And if you're comfortable sharing, would you describe those experiences and how did you 195 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:28,880 deal with those feelings? 196 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,880 A thousand percent. 197 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:33,200 A thousand percent experience. 198 00:12:33,200 --> 00:12:35,200 A thousand percent. 199 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:42,080 And I think, honestly, I love what you're doing with this podcast because for me, I've 200 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,080 always been so open about, yeah, I've been rejected. 201 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:47,560 Yeah, and I'll say it for the people in the back. 202 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:52,720 And on the other hand, I know people in this industry who are like, no, I haven't been 203 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:53,720 rejected. 204 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:57,440 And I think that's people everywhere. 205 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,280 It's just very difficult to admit to ourselves. 206 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:00,280 It is. 207 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:01,280 It is. 208 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:02,280 It is. 209 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:03,280 Yeah. 210 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,760 And I think that's a real piece of judgment coming from a place where it's like, I just 211 00:13:06,760 --> 00:13:12,720 want to hear your story and I want to be able to learn something and I want to be able to 212 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,040 help other people. 213 00:13:15,040 --> 00:13:17,840 And that's why I love what you're doing. 214 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:23,800 No, thank you because I've heard several people share in general that sometimes when they're 215 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:27,280 struggling or like, say, like university students, they're struggling, they could go 216 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:29,560 to student wellness services, they could go there. 217 00:13:29,560 --> 00:13:34,200 And those are really helpful resources, but it's a whole different thing and it can be 218 00:13:34,200 --> 00:13:39,400 helpful on the side to get a perspective of what other peers, like people who are in 219 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:43,400 your age range or like what they're going through and how they dealt with something similar 220 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:46,200 that you've been through as well. 221 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:49,680 Because it just shows that, okay, this person is similar to me. 222 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:53,680 They've experienced similar things and they've overcame that. 223 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:55,760 So I can overcome that too. 224 00:13:55,760 --> 00:13:57,880 And it's peer support in a way. 225 00:13:57,880 --> 00:13:59,440 I think it's a beautiful thing. 226 00:13:59,440 --> 00:14:02,360 And I wasn't really sure what I was doing when I was starting this podcast. 227 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:07,920 I just felt like, I just felt like, I don't know, maybe call it intuition, call it a calling. 228 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:11,960 I don't know what it was, but it did really push me in that direction. 229 00:14:11,960 --> 00:14:14,640 And now I'm doing something that I didn't even think I would be ever doing. 230 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,640 I'm interviewing people about their life and the rejections they went through. 231 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:24,840 And I hope it does make an impact and it helps people see that they're not alone and rejection 232 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,440 is not the end of the world because it could be just the beginning of something too. 233 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:29,440 Exactly. 234 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:30,440 Yeah, but thank you. 235 00:14:30,440 --> 00:14:31,880 Thank you for telling me about that. 236 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:32,880 No, of course. 237 00:14:32,880 --> 00:14:37,720 And like you were saying about starting the podcast, whether it was a calling or an intuition 238 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,760 or something like that, that's really in the unknown that I was talking about. 239 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:47,320 And not knowing where you're going, but just having that feeling in your heart that it's 240 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:49,960 meant to be is just such a beautiful thing. 241 00:14:49,960 --> 00:14:53,560 And I'm so happy you found that. 242 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:54,560 Yeah, thank you. 243 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:55,560 Thank you. 244 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:56,560 Yeah, of course. 245 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:58,760 I kind of got away from the question. 246 00:14:58,760 --> 00:15:00,000 I asked you, I'm sorry. 247 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:01,520 No, that was me. 248 00:15:01,520 --> 00:15:02,520 Definitely. 249 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,520 I just wanted to appreciate you for a second. 250 00:15:04,520 --> 00:15:05,520 Thank you. 251 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:06,520 Thank you. 252 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:07,520 I always, I take it. 253 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:08,720 I used to be very wary of compliments. 254 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,960 I used to make me uncomfortable, but now I try to, if one of my goals is to be like, 255 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:14,680 take it in and be like, thank you. 256 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:15,680 But remaining humble. 257 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:16,680 Yeah, of course. 258 00:15:16,680 --> 00:15:19,680 Well, I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable. 259 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:20,680 No, no, no. 260 00:15:20,680 --> 00:15:21,680 I love compliments. 261 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:22,680 It builds my confidence. 262 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:23,680 Good. 263 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:24,680 That's what we're trying to do here. 264 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:26,680 Yeah, exactly. 265 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:27,680 Yeah. 266 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:29,680 Lead by example, right? 267 00:15:29,680 --> 00:15:30,680 Exactly. 268 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:31,680 Exactly. 269 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:37,640 So yeah, the question was, do you ever face rejections or like feelings of rejection or 270 00:15:37,640 --> 00:15:38,640 self doubt in the industry? 271 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:41,640 And you said a thousand percent. 272 00:15:41,640 --> 00:15:44,560 So yeah, go ahead. 273 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,480 It started before pageantry, before modeling, before anything. 274 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,480 It started in school. 275 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:58,480 It started in elementary school and I found that it was constantly picked on, bullied. 276 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:08,280 And as I continued to grow up, I felt as though it was more about me being half-Filipina. 277 00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:13,600 Being half-Filipina and born in Canada, I felt as though when I was growing up and I 278 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:19,280 was trying to find a group that could support me and could want it to be my friend almost. 279 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:27,160 It was like, when I went to more of a Filipino structured group, I felt too Canadian. 280 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,440 I felt outcasted. 281 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:36,160 But being not completely white, whatever I felt as though I was reaching for a more different 282 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:39,320 group, I felt outcasted there. 283 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:48,840 So not only did I feel upset that I was being bullied, that was my first setback in the 284 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,800 feeling of rejection. 285 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:53,400 And it's starting from a young age. 286 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:59,640 I carried into junior high and I had a really hard time finding friends and when I did find 287 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:04,560 a friend, I'd mess it up somehow because I wasn't confident myself. 288 00:17:04,560 --> 00:17:07,000 I was like, oh, this person is just going to leave me. 289 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,520 This person is talking bad about me. 290 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,440 This person is, they have other friends. 291 00:17:11,440 --> 00:17:12,640 They don't like me. 292 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:19,200 I felt these thoughts constantly in my head and it completely diminished myself. 293 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:28,000 But that's why when I was talking about going into pageantry, I did not want to do it. 294 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:29,680 That ties into it. 295 00:17:29,680 --> 00:17:36,160 And I felt as though there was the stereotype on pageantry where a pageant girl gets put 296 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:39,760 on this pedestal and just is viewed as perfect. 297 00:17:39,760 --> 00:17:44,280 She has it all together, she doesn't have any bad experiences. 298 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:45,280 Exactly. 299 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:51,280 And these pageant girls have these big crowns, they're pretentious. 300 00:17:51,280 --> 00:17:56,040 That was my thought process going into it because that was where my self-esteem was 301 00:17:56,040 --> 00:18:02,800 at because of my childhood and everything that I experienced at the time. 302 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:06,400 So that was probably my first rejection. 303 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:11,600 It carried on for a really long time and I'm honestly just getting over it now. 304 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,040 So I'm being honest, like over the past year. 305 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:18,360 And the reason why is because I created Hero Canada. 306 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:19,360 Right. 307 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:26,280 And to you bullying online platform that I created about a year and a half ago now. 308 00:18:26,280 --> 00:18:33,480 And I just use that platform to spread awareness about bullying and spread awareness about 309 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:40,000 how it's intertwined with pageantry and pageantry isn't about this girl with a crown and a sash 310 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:44,120 on a pedestal who thinks she's perfect or has her life together. 311 00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,120 It's not about that. 312 00:18:45,120 --> 00:18:49,120 That crown goes beyond the physical appearance of it. 313 00:18:49,120 --> 00:18:51,080 It goes deeper. 314 00:18:51,080 --> 00:18:56,360 It goes into the way you can use that crown to be in front of little girls and share these 315 00:18:56,360 --> 00:18:59,520 experiences that it's okay to not be okay. 316 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,280 Like the cliche. 317 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:03,280 But it's not just a cliche. 318 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:04,600 It's so genuine. 319 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:12,120 And I think that if these little girls started to see the imperfections and started to realize 320 00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:18,160 that everybody has them and it's okay and being your own kind of beautiful, that's what 321 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:19,840 the crown represents. 322 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:28,000 It doesn't represent being perfect and it doesn't represent being all knowing and just 323 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:30,680 overall amazing almost. 324 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:41,200 It's just like it's a symbol for these little girls and these kids who feel bullied and who 325 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,960 feel alone and feel distressed because they're going through the same thing I did and that's 326 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:51,360 why I created Hero and that's why I use my crown and my sash to be in the community, 327 00:19:51,360 --> 00:19:56,200 to help these little kids, to talk to them, to have them understand that it goes beyond 328 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,360 the physical appearance of it. 329 00:19:58,360 --> 00:19:59,360 Yeah. 330 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:02,480 Okay, let's just process everything. 331 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:06,400 You said it's just so beautiful and I don't even know where to start. 332 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:08,400 First of all, you're amazing. 333 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:09,400 Oh gosh. 334 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:16,080 Yes, the fact that you turned, there's the saying, pain into purpose because even though 335 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:21,720 rejection suck and I'm so sorry that you were bullied and doesn't feel nice. 336 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:27,960 I've had my share of experiences and it sucks and it just when you're already going through 337 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:33,240 your stuff and then there's people who even undermine you even further that just adds 338 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:38,200 to your low self-esteem and the fact that you experienced that, I'm sorry, but the fact 339 00:20:38,200 --> 00:20:43,840 that you use that experience and turn it into something meaningful to help little girls 340 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:50,640 and people in the community to build Hero Canada, that's just truly beautiful and we 341 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:55,640 don't want to romanticize rejection here because in this case especially because bullying 342 00:20:55,640 --> 00:21:00,720 sucks, but the fact that you got something out of it and it did frame you into doing 343 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:07,760 this project and it framed you into the person you are today and it made you in a way maybe, 344 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,360 maybe it made you more empathetic to what they're going through because you remember 345 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:17,920 that pain, you remember that feeling and you remember how that affected you at the time 346 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,640 and the fact that you just said that you were just getting over it just shows the reality 347 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:28,000 of how some rejections like in this case bullying is a social form of rejection, social rejection, 348 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:32,240 how sometimes it takes a long time to get over it because rejections like this they 349 00:21:32,240 --> 00:21:38,320 feel personal, bullying that can really scar I feel that can really have an impact. 350 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:42,800 You're very real for sharing that you're just getting over that some of that pain that you've 351 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:47,640 experienced and it's true, I can understand that and the fact that you turn that into 352 00:21:47,640 --> 00:21:52,240 such a beautiful project and you've made meaning in the community because of it just shows 353 00:21:52,240 --> 00:22:00,000 how we can use rejection to reframe us even though they do suck in the moment, but they 354 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:04,520 do help us in a way in the future to do something meaningful. 355 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,440 So thank you so much. 356 00:22:06,440 --> 00:22:09,160 Thank you so much for sharing that experience of yours. 357 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:17,040 I appreciate that and you're so right, bullying does beat up scar and it does fall into your 358 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:23,160 future but when take it and you're able to really understand it and grasp what you experienced 359 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:30,400 and how you can use it to do something and like you said pain into purpose. 360 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:31,600 Yeah, exactly. 361 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,880 And when I started this podcast, I didn't know why I wanted to do it. 362 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:36,560 I just felt like I did. 363 00:22:36,560 --> 00:22:42,440 But in the process, I hope that I helped people, but I for sure know I helped myself in that. 364 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:47,680 So in a way, it's just a nice way of processing what happened and it makes me feel more empowered 365 00:22:47,680 --> 00:22:54,200 because instead of being stuck in that pain, which is very tempting sometimes, you're like, 366 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:59,600 okay, let's just make small baby steps, see what comes out of it and turn it into something 367 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:04,240 that can help people because by sharing my experience, it can be very therapeutic, but 368 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:05,240 also other people hear it. 369 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:06,240 So it's like a win-win. 370 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:10,960 You're really helping yourself and you're helping others process it, what just happened 371 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:13,320 and how to move on from it in a healthy way. 372 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:18,240 So and maybe for you was a similar thing when you were starting this project, maybe in a 373 00:23:18,240 --> 00:23:23,920 way it was healing a part of you that was still wounded from those bullying experiences 374 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:25,000 that you had. 375 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,560 So I don't know, there's just so many layers to this. 376 00:23:28,560 --> 00:23:30,600 Yeah, you're so right. 377 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:38,240 When we talk about rejections and we talk about how bullying was just a scar because it affected 378 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,680 my self-esteem so much when I was rejected in the future. 379 00:23:41,680 --> 00:23:44,000 It made it so much harder. 380 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:51,680 So when I got to compete for Philippines, part of me was so excited because as a kid, 381 00:23:51,680 --> 00:23:53,960 like I said, I felt like an outcast. 382 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:55,640 I didn't feel like I belonged. 383 00:23:55,640 --> 00:24:00,160 Now I represent this national title at an international stage. 384 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:06,840 I placed top 10 internationally and although it's amazing because it's top 10 out of the 385 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:11,720 many countries that are there, I still felt awful when I didn't place. 386 00:24:11,720 --> 00:24:14,840 Philippines has a reputation. 387 00:24:14,840 --> 00:24:21,200 They are a documentary powerhouse and wearing that title across my chest. 388 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:26,960 It was incredible and when I felt as though I didn't do it justice, I carried that with 389 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:27,960 me. 390 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:33,440 I was constantly thinking about it and I also experienced bullying at the national stage. 391 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:39,840 On the live stream, there were all comments about me and my weight and what I was wearing 392 00:24:39,840 --> 00:24:44,080 and I wasn't open about that at the time. 393 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:49,800 Just being a point of that title and that was my first international title and I didn't 394 00:24:49,800 --> 00:24:51,000 know what to do at the time. 395 00:24:51,000 --> 00:24:55,120 I didn't know if I should spread awareness or post these comments or respond to them 396 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:56,880 or anything like that. 397 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,280 I think that's what bullying does to you. 398 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:01,280 It just leaves you so confused. 399 00:25:01,280 --> 00:25:03,400 It leaves you feeling so lost. 400 00:25:03,400 --> 00:25:05,760 Did I do something to deserve this? 401 00:25:05,760 --> 00:25:12,320 Was there something that I did sometime leading up to this point that made me deserve these 402 00:25:12,320 --> 00:25:18,680 negative comments or accusations or anything like that because that's how I was feeling 403 00:25:18,680 --> 00:25:23,600 at that time after I walked off that stage and I opened my phone for the first time. 404 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:27,200 There were still comments from people that I didn't even know that were like the reason 405 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:33,040 you didn't place is because you're too overweight or your dress was just a right. 406 00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:34,040 It was awful. 407 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:39,040 It was so awful and at the time, at the time I think I was around 15. 408 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:43,840 Oh, not that it hurts any less when you're older but like, oh, it's just. 409 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:44,840 I know. 410 00:25:44,840 --> 00:25:47,000 I'm so sorry you went through that. 411 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:48,000 That sucks. 412 00:25:48,000 --> 00:25:49,000 It's all good. 413 00:25:49,000 --> 00:25:52,880 But after that, I competed again. 414 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:53,880 I did it again. 415 00:25:53,880 --> 00:26:00,800 I went to a different pageant, still international and I wore Canada across my chest this time 416 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:07,400 and I competed at Supermodel International in Thailand and I ended up getting first runner 417 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:12,760 up and I went into this pageant with a different mindset. 418 00:26:12,760 --> 00:26:22,040 After team universe and feeling as though I was rejected and feeling I was denied, I 419 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,320 had such an incredible support system. 420 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:31,960 My team, SEI models, they supported me, they allowed me to compete again, even though my 421 00:26:31,960 --> 00:26:41,120 self-worth was down the drain, they uplifted me and they taught me that I can do anything 422 00:26:41,120 --> 00:26:42,960 that I said I might do. 423 00:26:42,960 --> 00:26:50,480 And although I felt denied, one of my idols, one of my role models in the pageantry world, 424 00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:55,480 Catriona Gray, she was missing in person in 2018, she's from the Philippines, she said 425 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:59,200 you're denied, you're only redirected. 426 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:07,600 When I have a feeling of rejection and I don't want a pageant or I get first runner up, I 427 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:11,160 don't see it as something where I'm denied. 428 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:13,840 It just wasn't meant for me and that's okay. 429 00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:21,680 Everything has to be made for me or has to be mine, that the winner, Vietnam, that one 430 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:27,360 the year that I competed and got first runner up holding her hand, I saw her go on stage 431 00:27:27,360 --> 00:27:35,080 and I saw her go on to amazing things after that and that is good enough. 432 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:36,080 After that, what did I do? 433 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:37,080 I don't even know anymore. 434 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,080 I'm just like, I'm rambling here. 435 00:27:39,080 --> 00:27:45,040 No, no, you're not, you're sharing such, trust me, what you're sharing is good. 436 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:48,640 Do you see me like, I'm just like holding my heart. 437 00:27:48,640 --> 00:27:51,400 Your storytelling is top notch. 438 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,400 And let me circle back around to my current title. 439 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:00,960 When I competed for Miss Junior Team Calgary and What's Spectral, Alberta, like I was talking 440 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:08,400 about, that qualified me to compete at Miss Teenage Canada for the first time in 2021. 441 00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:10,920 And so I went on to compete in the summer. 442 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:11,920 It was August. 443 00:28:11,920 --> 00:28:15,880 I was contestant number one from Alberta. 444 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,400 I still remember every single detail about that. 445 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,120 This top five, that was another redirection. 446 00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:25,080 It just wasn't meant for me at the time. 447 00:28:25,080 --> 00:28:28,880 And then I went on to compete internationally after that, 20s. 448 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:30,640 And I went to a fashion week. 449 00:28:30,640 --> 00:28:37,840 I was traveling and then this year I was like, you know what, let's do it again. 450 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:43,640 Even though it was technically rejection and it just wasn't meant for me at that time. 451 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:48,680 I would now with my platform in Hero Canada and everything that I'm doing, I felt secure 452 00:28:48,680 --> 00:28:51,520 in the place where, you know what, let's do it again. 453 00:28:51,520 --> 00:28:57,760 Let's do it again with a different mindset because remember, I didn't want the pageant 454 00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:58,760 initially. 455 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,360 I just want to do any of that now with this love that I have for it. 456 00:29:03,360 --> 00:29:09,240 Like I could use this title for something amazing, for something incredible to turn 457 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:11,880 my pain into purpose like you were saying. 458 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:17,920 And as Miss Teenage Canada says, to find your own kind of beautiful. 459 00:29:17,920 --> 00:29:26,160 And when I competed again, I came in with my team this year and they prepared me. 460 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:30,040 They trained me hours and hours of training that they set aside for me. 461 00:29:30,040 --> 00:29:31,880 I'm so beyond thankful. 462 00:29:31,880 --> 00:29:34,240 And I ended up winning. 463 00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:40,400 And that was the first time, honestly, since being bullied and since all these three directions 464 00:29:40,400 --> 00:29:43,200 where something in my heart felt secure. 465 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:50,560 That was the first time that I felt as though I won something and I was able to just earn 466 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:51,560 it. 467 00:29:51,560 --> 00:30:01,560 And it took hours of training and crying and dieting and everything to just feeling 468 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,880 哩哩 my successor put the crown on my head. 469 00:30:04,880 --> 00:30:05,880 I couldn't believe it. 470 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:09,040 I was shaking and it was, it's crazy. 471 00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:18,600 The journey, the journey you went through is just, you know, you did find your own 472 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:19,600 kind of beautiful. 473 00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:23,620 You did discover that and you, you always were beautiful and you always did have that 474 00:30:23,620 --> 00:30:24,620 worth. 475 00:30:24,620 --> 00:30:26,580 You just, you just didn't see it at the time. 476 00:30:26,580 --> 00:30:30,180 And who can blame you because because you've gone through so much 477 00:30:30,260 --> 00:30:34,780 of going online at the time when the Philippines when you place top 10, 478 00:30:34,820 --> 00:30:36,820 that's an accomplishment in itself. 479 00:30:37,380 --> 00:30:39,100 That's that's amazing. 480 00:30:39,100 --> 00:30:41,500 But but it's really about our perception, right? 481 00:30:41,500 --> 00:30:46,060 And the perception of other people and how you were influenced by what people 482 00:30:46,060 --> 00:30:48,100 said about you and who who wouldn't be. 483 00:30:48,100 --> 00:30:49,180 It's just so difficult. 484 00:30:49,180 --> 00:30:52,700 And for being a 15 year old girl having gone through that. 485 00:30:52,700 --> 00:30:58,140 But you know, it is a part of your life and it is what happened. 486 00:30:58,540 --> 00:31:00,220 And now you are where you are today. 487 00:31:00,220 --> 00:31:04,020 And you probably you're more grounded in your positive self image. 488 00:31:04,020 --> 00:31:10,460 And you have more confidence than probably a lot of people do because of the things 489 00:31:10,740 --> 00:31:11,620 you went through. 490 00:31:11,620 --> 00:31:14,380 And because of the things you went through, you're just kind of like, OK, 491 00:31:14,380 --> 00:31:15,860 I've got to refrain my mindset. 492 00:31:17,060 --> 00:31:20,460 And for me, this was when I was rejected from medical school. 493 00:31:20,460 --> 00:31:22,180 I was I was very self critical. 494 00:31:22,180 --> 00:31:24,380 I was very judgmental towards myself. 495 00:31:24,820 --> 00:31:28,780 And but I'm like, I either have to refrain my mindset and have to become more 496 00:31:28,780 --> 00:31:33,140 self compassionate or I will I will crush myself from the inside. 497 00:31:33,540 --> 00:31:35,500 And, you know, you have to make that choice. 498 00:31:35,500 --> 00:31:40,900 Either crush yourself or you become stronger in a way you're there for yourself. 499 00:31:40,940 --> 00:31:41,940 Like you're there. 500 00:31:42,220 --> 00:31:44,620 You show up for yourself no matter what happens. 501 00:31:44,860 --> 00:31:46,820 And that's what happened to you. 502 00:31:46,820 --> 00:31:50,420 And I'm so glad to hear that you've you finally felt it. 503 00:31:50,420 --> 00:31:52,580 You felt secure in that win. 504 00:31:53,460 --> 00:31:58,100 I mean, you are a winning personality, winning lady in overall. 505 00:31:58,380 --> 00:32:01,380 Like you've been that it's just it took you time to see it. 506 00:32:01,820 --> 00:32:03,460 And I'm so glad you did. 507 00:32:03,460 --> 00:32:05,340 I'm so glad you reached that point. 508 00:32:05,380 --> 00:32:09,860 And I'm so glad their organization like Miss Teenage Canada was there for you 509 00:32:09,860 --> 00:32:13,900 to help you see that surrounding yourself intentionally with people who do support you. 510 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:18,820 Well, hopefully that that did help you and that contributed to you finding yourself again 511 00:32:18,820 --> 00:32:22,900 and finding and rediscovering your self worth because we all have it. 512 00:32:22,900 --> 00:32:27,100 We just don't see it sometimes, especially when we feel like we've been rejected 513 00:32:27,100 --> 00:32:28,860 and those things happen. 514 00:32:28,900 --> 00:32:33,420 But, you know, that experience that you had framed you into a stronger being 515 00:32:33,700 --> 00:32:35,500 into a stronger woman. 516 00:32:35,780 --> 00:32:40,900 And, you know, that helped you become more stronger and place boundaries faster. 517 00:32:41,220 --> 00:32:45,820 And, you know, you've just learned so much throughout the way and it will definitely 518 00:32:45,820 --> 00:32:50,220 help you down the line when you face future difficulties, when you face future setbacks. 519 00:32:50,220 --> 00:32:52,700 There is hope and eventually you can move on. 520 00:32:52,700 --> 00:32:57,100 It just it takes time and patience and self compassion and coming to that place 521 00:32:57,100 --> 00:32:58,660 of self love for yourself. 522 00:32:59,660 --> 00:33:01,300 So thank you for sharing your story. 523 00:33:01,300 --> 00:33:06,540 It's truly beautiful and thank you for being so vulnerable and it's really brave, you know, 524 00:33:06,540 --> 00:33:10,620 and coming on this podcast on this platform to share what you've been through. 525 00:33:10,620 --> 00:33:11,660 It's inspiring. 526 00:33:11,660 --> 00:33:15,300 First of all, for me, it's inspiring for our listeners as well. 527 00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:20,340 Because, you know, as we were talking earlier, people face rejections, but no one likes to 528 00:33:20,340 --> 00:33:23,820 admit that to other people, let alone like admit it to themselves. 529 00:33:23,820 --> 00:33:27,580 So the fact that you're here and you're sharing this definitely feels like part of 530 00:33:27,580 --> 00:33:30,380 you have moved on from it and you do feel more secure. 531 00:33:30,380 --> 00:33:32,220 So I think that's beautiful. 532 00:33:32,220 --> 00:33:34,580 And just just thank you for being here. 533 00:33:35,300 --> 00:33:36,820 Thank you for having me. 534 00:33:36,820 --> 00:33:38,300 I really appreciate that. 535 00:33:38,300 --> 00:33:42,500 Just like feeling appreciated for being vulnerable is such a good compliment. 536 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:49,260 And I think being in this pageantry world, I've learned how to be vulnerable and it 537 00:33:49,260 --> 00:33:50,820 wasn't always like that. 538 00:33:50,820 --> 00:33:56,620 It wasn't like after Teen Universe, like I was saying, I shut it down. 539 00:33:56,620 --> 00:33:58,620 I did not want to talk about it. 540 00:33:59,620 --> 00:34:03,740 And I just want to set the record straight that my body was changing. 541 00:34:03,740 --> 00:34:10,260 I was 15 and anybody listening who feels that they are in that spot right now, 542 00:34:10,260 --> 00:34:12,660 don't feel as though that it's a setback. 543 00:34:12,660 --> 00:34:14,940 It's not anything that's setting you back. 544 00:34:14,940 --> 00:34:18,940 If it has to do with your weight or your self confidence, it's not setback. 545 00:34:18,940 --> 00:34:20,140 It's just you change it. 546 00:34:20,140 --> 00:34:23,140 It's you finding your own kind of people. 547 00:34:23,780 --> 00:34:24,780 Nice. 548 00:34:25,180 --> 00:34:26,180 I love it. 549 00:34:26,180 --> 00:34:27,340 We'll keep coming back to that. 550 00:34:27,340 --> 00:34:28,340 I love it. 551 00:34:28,340 --> 00:34:29,820 I honestly love it. 552 00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:34,340 And like being Miss Teenage Canada, like that's what I want to keep talking about. 553 00:34:34,340 --> 00:34:39,260 That's my, honestly, one of my purposes as a type of person is to be 554 00:34:39,260 --> 00:34:41,260 just a type of older. 555 00:34:41,260 --> 00:34:46,260 So if you talk to me and be prepared, you will always hear that. 556 00:34:46,260 --> 00:34:47,260 Yes. 557 00:34:47,260 --> 00:34:48,260 Yes. 558 00:34:48,260 --> 00:34:49,260 It's okay. 559 00:34:49,260 --> 00:34:50,260 We need to hear it. 560 00:34:50,260 --> 00:34:52,260 We need to hear more of that message in the world. 561 00:34:52,260 --> 00:34:53,260 Yeah. 562 00:34:53,260 --> 00:34:55,260 It just really helps hearing that. 563 00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:58,260 I've heard it and we've talked before about this and I've heard this go, 564 00:34:58,260 --> 00:35:02,260 but every time I hear it, just my heart flutters a little bit because it's just, 565 00:35:02,260 --> 00:35:05,260 it's beautiful and it's always a good thing to keep in the back of your mind. 566 00:35:05,260 --> 00:35:08,260 No matter who you are, no matter where you are, what position you're in, 567 00:35:08,260 --> 00:35:10,260 you're your own kind of beautiful. 568 00:35:10,260 --> 00:35:12,260 And that's just great. 569 00:35:12,260 --> 00:35:13,260 Yeah. 570 00:35:13,260 --> 00:35:18,260 And, you know, now that you feel more secure and you've gone through that 571 00:35:18,260 --> 00:35:22,260 crazy experience and that's such a young age. 572 00:35:22,260 --> 00:35:26,260 How now, how do you balance striving for excellence? 573 00:35:26,260 --> 00:35:31,260 And you have so many goals and on the horizon and you have projects going on. 574 00:35:31,260 --> 00:35:35,260 How do you balance striving for excellence while allowing yourself the grace to 575 00:35:35,260 --> 00:35:39,260 fail and learn? Because a lot of people can find the balance between those things. 576 00:35:39,260 --> 00:35:41,260 And I'm one of those people. 577 00:35:41,260 --> 00:35:45,260 Sometimes I can be really hard on myself when I feel like I just failed. 578 00:35:45,260 --> 00:35:50,260 And that fear of failure can sometimes prevent me from pursuing my dreams or 579 00:35:50,260 --> 00:35:51,260 start sabotaging myself. 580 00:35:51,260 --> 00:35:54,260 And I guess that goes to many people as well. 581 00:35:54,260 --> 00:35:56,260 So how do you find that balance? 582 00:35:56,260 --> 00:36:00,260 How do you strive for excellence and you want, you know, you want that ambition, 583 00:36:00,260 --> 00:36:04,260 you want things and, but also, you know, allowing yourself to kind of say, 584 00:36:04,260 --> 00:36:07,260 it's okay if something didn't come to me, that that's fine. 585 00:36:07,260 --> 00:36:08,260 Yeah. 586 00:36:08,260 --> 00:36:10,260 That's a good question. 587 00:36:10,260 --> 00:36:16,260 And some context for that and how it initially helped me and is looking at my 588 00:36:16,260 --> 00:36:18,260 mom for an example. 589 00:36:18,260 --> 00:36:20,260 My mom was definitely inspiration. 590 00:36:20,260 --> 00:36:22,260 She works so hard. 591 00:36:22,260 --> 00:36:25,260 She works two part times and she's here. 592 00:36:25,260 --> 00:36:26,260 She's cooking for us. 593 00:36:26,260 --> 00:36:27,260 She's supporting us. 594 00:36:27,260 --> 00:36:32,260 She's like, honestly, the epitome of time management growing up. 595 00:36:32,260 --> 00:36:38,260 I saw that and now with everything I do with the traveling and with the working, 596 00:36:38,260 --> 00:36:44,260 like I was working four part time jobs at one point plus traveling plus school 597 00:36:44,260 --> 00:36:45,260 before I graduated. 598 00:36:45,260 --> 00:36:50,260 And my mom was the reason I was able to time manage that just being able to look 599 00:36:50,260 --> 00:36:55,260 at her and knowing that like, wow, she is so strong in herself and being able to 600 00:36:55,260 --> 00:36:56,260 do that. 601 00:36:56,260 --> 00:37:00,260 But on the opposite hand, would be able to strive for ambition. 602 00:37:00,260 --> 00:37:03,260 Certain things just need more attention. 603 00:37:03,260 --> 00:37:09,260 And what I had to learn, honestly, the hard way was it's okay to step back and take 604 00:37:09,260 --> 00:37:14,260 yourself out of certain situations that aren't supporting your ambitions that you're 605 00:37:14,260 --> 00:37:16,260 striving for. 606 00:37:16,260 --> 00:37:21,260 And when it came to work, I was working four part time jobs at one, at one point. 607 00:37:21,260 --> 00:37:26,260 And I was still wanting to travel and I was still wanting to do all these things like 608 00:37:26,260 --> 00:37:31,260 go to fashion week and I was like, but I need the money, but I need the money. 609 00:37:31,260 --> 00:37:34,260 But part of me was also burnt out. 610 00:37:34,260 --> 00:37:41,260 And I had to realize that it goes beyond the money and how am I supposed to go and do 611 00:37:41,260 --> 00:37:48,260 these things that I love and want to support my team for when I physically can't get out 612 00:37:48,260 --> 00:37:54,260 of the bed or I'm stuck at work doing an eight hour shift and then have to go to work 613 00:37:54,260 --> 00:37:57,260 right after that. 614 00:37:57,260 --> 00:38:02,260 And just the idea of being able to take yourself out of a situation and know that you're not 615 00:38:02,260 --> 00:38:03,260 going to be judged. 616 00:38:03,260 --> 00:38:07,260 You're not going to be not going to offend anybody. 617 00:38:07,260 --> 00:38:11,260 You're not harming anybody else. 618 00:38:11,260 --> 00:38:14,260 You are supporting yourself for the goals that you want. 619 00:38:14,260 --> 00:38:20,260 And as much as I talk about not being selfish and thinking about other people and other 620 00:38:20,260 --> 00:38:23,260 people's perception, that's the one thing that I would say. 621 00:38:23,260 --> 00:38:29,260 Honestly, you need to think about yourself in today's society when there's so many things 622 00:38:29,260 --> 00:38:31,260 going on, there's so many opportunities. 623 00:38:31,260 --> 00:38:36,260 There's so many things that can burn you out and have to experience these things and get 624 00:38:36,260 --> 00:38:40,260 out there, get in the community volunteer, do all these things. 625 00:38:40,260 --> 00:38:46,260 If I'm working for part time jobs and I can only speak for myself because my financial 626 00:38:46,260 --> 00:38:49,260 situation is different than everybody else's. 627 00:38:49,260 --> 00:38:54,260 I recognize that, but it goes beyond the financial aspect. 628 00:38:54,260 --> 00:39:00,260 If you're doing something that you feel as though isn't benefiting you, take yourself 629 00:39:00,260 --> 00:39:01,260 out of the situation. 630 00:39:01,260 --> 00:39:03,260 Do yourself a favor. 631 00:39:03,260 --> 00:39:08,260 Do something else that can contribute to your main goal. 632 00:39:08,260 --> 00:39:15,260 And for me, at the time that was going to Miss Tanaige Canada and I had to sacrifice a couple 633 00:39:15,260 --> 00:39:21,260 of jobs, I had to sacrifice certain friends, certain people in my life to be able to reach 634 00:39:21,260 --> 00:39:22,260 that goal. 635 00:39:22,260 --> 00:39:26,260 But at the end of the day, that's what got me there. 636 00:39:26,260 --> 00:39:32,260 And now I can use all that energy that I was putting into other things that weren't benefiting 637 00:39:32,260 --> 00:39:33,260 me to something better. 638 00:39:33,260 --> 00:39:37,260 No, that's a really good message to share. 639 00:39:37,260 --> 00:39:43,260 Being able to balance that and being able to give things up and not feel as though you're 640 00:39:43,260 --> 00:39:45,460 rejected. 641 00:39:45,460 --> 00:39:49,760 I think we also have to look at the other side of it, like not only rejection, but taking 642 00:39:49,760 --> 00:39:54,260 yourself out of situations, intentionally taking yourself out of situations that aren't 643 00:39:54,260 --> 00:40:00,260 benefiting you and are honestly causing yourself harm and maybe other people harm. 644 00:40:00,260 --> 00:40:02,260 No, I definitely agree. 645 00:40:02,260 --> 00:40:05,260 There's like nothing else to add to it. 646 00:40:05,260 --> 00:40:08,260 So yeah, thank you for sharing that. 647 00:40:08,260 --> 00:40:13,260 What would you recommend to listeners currently going through a rejection or fear of being 648 00:40:13,260 --> 00:40:14,260 rejected? 649 00:40:14,260 --> 00:40:16,860 What are some best ways we can use to overcome it? 650 00:40:16,860 --> 00:40:19,260 And how do we build confidence and resilience in the process? 651 00:40:19,260 --> 00:40:23,260 I know it's a loaded question, but start where you like. 652 00:40:23,260 --> 00:40:29,260 Whenever I talk about things, like whenever we're having a conversation, it's often personal 653 00:40:29,260 --> 00:40:30,260 experience. 654 00:40:30,260 --> 00:40:36,060 And I know other people have it worse than I do. 655 00:40:36,060 --> 00:40:41,460 But that goes with comparison, like we talked about and how I responded to that and how 656 00:40:41,460 --> 00:40:47,300 I'm going to respond to this is you can be your own kind of beautiful. 657 00:40:47,300 --> 00:40:53,500 And I know it sounds repetitive, but it's so important to get it out there that if you 658 00:40:53,500 --> 00:40:58,200 feel as though you're struggling and you're going through something, the first step is 659 00:40:58,200 --> 00:41:05,220 to realize that it's okay and it's your own journey and it's your own path. 660 00:41:05,220 --> 00:41:12,220 And I think it's important to stay on your own path and allow time to heal these things 661 00:41:12,220 --> 00:41:17,340 and allow yourself to realize that it's okay to be where you're at right now. 662 00:41:17,340 --> 00:41:23,420 It's okay to struggle and just discovering your own beauty in it and your own light in 663 00:41:23,420 --> 00:41:27,180 the situation is a start. 664 00:41:27,180 --> 00:41:30,300 And no matter what you're going through, you're obviously not alone. 665 00:41:30,300 --> 00:41:37,260 There's many platforms, there's many services that can support you. 666 00:41:37,260 --> 00:41:39,140 And that's why I created Hero, right? 667 00:41:39,140 --> 00:41:44,340 If you're feeling as though you are being bullied or honestly, if you're feeling as though 668 00:41:44,340 --> 00:41:51,660 you are in a position where maybe you're bullying, it's okay to look at these things and just 669 00:41:51,660 --> 00:41:59,700 understand it and take it all in and realize that these things that we've always seen on 670 00:41:59,700 --> 00:42:07,460 TV or on social media that are just so intimidating, these are real resources that you can use. 671 00:42:07,460 --> 00:42:11,460 People are working and striving to be able to help you. 672 00:42:11,460 --> 00:42:15,300 If I were to say anything to any of these people, it's not only be your own kind of 673 00:42:15,300 --> 00:42:22,180 beautiful but don't be afraid to step out and don't be afraid to be vulnerable because 674 00:42:22,180 --> 00:42:28,980 there's beauty in vulnerability and there's beauty in honesty and being able to share 675 00:42:28,980 --> 00:42:30,980 your experiences. 676 00:42:30,980 --> 00:42:37,580 It will help you but it helps other people to help you, other people to be able to learn 677 00:42:37,580 --> 00:42:39,580 to help other people. 678 00:42:39,580 --> 00:42:46,860 It's a community effort and know that you are not alone at any point in time, ever. 679 00:42:46,860 --> 00:42:49,300 Yeah, that's great. 680 00:42:49,300 --> 00:42:50,300 Thank you. 681 00:42:50,300 --> 00:42:51,300 Thank you for sharing that. 682 00:42:51,300 --> 00:42:57,580 And yeah, like you said, it's allowing yourself to be your own kind of beautiful and sometimes 683 00:42:57,580 --> 00:43:02,260 we don't want to, especially with the rejection just happened or a setback just happened, 684 00:43:02,260 --> 00:43:03,740 something bad in your life has happened. 685 00:43:03,740 --> 00:43:09,460 You don't want to hear that when it just happened because you're sad and that's okay 686 00:43:09,460 --> 00:43:15,500 to be sad and accept all your emotions but in that moment whatever you're feeling is 687 00:43:15,500 --> 00:43:19,380 beautiful because it's a part of who you are and you're being honest with yourself about 688 00:43:19,380 --> 00:43:21,500 what you're experiencing. 689 00:43:21,500 --> 00:43:27,540 I think that's a big part of overcoming rejection like don't or your setbacks, like don't deny 690 00:43:27,540 --> 00:43:31,740 it, let yourself be what your body wants you to be in that moment. 691 00:43:31,740 --> 00:43:38,980 Just experience it and healing will naturally come to you and surrounding yourself with 692 00:43:38,980 --> 00:43:44,260 the people who will support you and like you said, I think practically it's very good 693 00:43:44,260 --> 00:43:47,020 to refer to resources. 694 00:43:47,020 --> 00:43:54,140 There's hotlines, there's like your platform like Hero Canada and Kids Help Phone. 695 00:43:54,140 --> 00:43:58,700 Those are all things that you can refer to and there's people who can help you and like 696 00:43:58,700 --> 00:44:06,460 you said, you're not alone and I feel like success, it's very honorable to strive for 697 00:44:06,460 --> 00:44:11,620 success and it's very good that people strive for it and they're trying to find themselves 698 00:44:11,620 --> 00:44:18,340 and go after their goals but success is a very broad term and it's about aligning with 699 00:44:18,340 --> 00:44:23,060 your strengths and aligning with your values to see what your definition of success is 700 00:44:23,060 --> 00:44:27,820 and don't let anyone define or tell you what success looks like. 701 00:44:27,820 --> 00:44:32,460 You have to discover it for yourself and it may not come right away. 702 00:44:32,460 --> 00:44:35,620 Sometimes it comes through trying things and saying, okay, this is not for me. 703 00:44:35,620 --> 00:44:39,620 This is what I should be going for and with your story, you know, you've tried several 704 00:44:39,620 --> 00:44:44,500 different organizations and you've landed on this teenage Canada that helps you so much 705 00:44:44,500 --> 00:44:47,060 and that's when you knew, okay, I found my people. 706 00:44:47,060 --> 00:44:52,740 I found people who can support me and I feel like that's a big part of fostering resilience 707 00:44:52,740 --> 00:44:58,140 and confidence is surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best in you. 708 00:44:58,140 --> 00:45:03,380 I find that it can be difficult sometimes depending on what situation you're in but 709 00:45:03,380 --> 00:45:07,140 that's one of the first steps to building confidence and resilience too. 710 00:45:07,140 --> 00:45:08,140 So yeah. 711 00:45:08,140 --> 00:45:16,100 It's beautiful that idea of success and how you define success and so when we talk about 712 00:45:16,100 --> 00:45:20,820 feeling as though you're struggling and you're feeling rejected, let's take a moment to realize 713 00:45:20,820 --> 00:45:27,220 what you went through to feel that and your idea of rejection can be someone's idea of 714 00:45:27,220 --> 00:45:39,860 success and if you take it from this mentality of my cup is half empty to half full, it changes 715 00:45:39,860 --> 00:45:47,140 everything almost and when I competed for this teenage Canada the second time, I went 716 00:45:47,140 --> 00:45:53,060 into it with no expectations, I didn't know that I was going to be able to go internationally 717 00:45:53,060 --> 00:45:54,060 after that. 718 00:45:54,060 --> 00:46:02,380 All I knew was that I was going in with a fresh mentality and look where it took me. 719 00:46:02,380 --> 00:46:10,180 I think that when we change our mindsets to what is my definition of success, my definition 720 00:46:10,180 --> 00:46:16,180 of success wasn't set on if I win this teenage Canada, that's the point of success. 721 00:46:16,180 --> 00:46:21,420 It wasn't that it was me going into it having a good week, meeting these pageant queens 722 00:46:21,420 --> 00:46:28,020 and just being there, being present and doing everything that I did but intentionally this 723 00:46:28,020 --> 00:46:35,060 time that was my idea of success and the crown that was a cherry on top. 724 00:46:35,060 --> 00:46:36,660 So that's everything for me. 725 00:46:36,660 --> 00:46:39,940 So when you mentioned that I was like that's so beautiful, you're so correct. 726 00:46:39,940 --> 00:46:43,220 I love everything you just said. 727 00:46:43,220 --> 00:46:44,220 Thank you. 728 00:46:44,220 --> 00:46:49,340 I think it just is beautiful that it does apply to everyone really and you can take 729 00:46:49,340 --> 00:46:52,380 that advice as you want. 730 00:46:52,380 --> 00:46:58,140 So it's like based on what situation you are in, we can give all the advice we want that 731 00:46:58,140 --> 00:47:03,140 we think is true to us but I find that it's universal enough that anyone who's listening 732 00:47:03,140 --> 00:47:05,700 to it can apply to their lives. 733 00:47:05,700 --> 00:47:10,260 Either way, do have faith in yourself and do surround yourselves with people who do support 734 00:47:10,260 --> 00:47:13,100 you and find your definition of success. 735 00:47:13,100 --> 00:47:17,620 They're almost coming to the end of the episode so it's a good message to almost end on. 736 00:47:17,620 --> 00:47:23,820 Any last thoughts or main takeaways you have for our listeners, Ariana, before we wrap 737 00:47:23,820 --> 00:47:24,820 up? 738 00:47:24,820 --> 00:47:26,980 One more time, I want to say be your own kind of beautiful. 739 00:47:26,980 --> 00:47:32,740 I mean that I'm always going to say if you need me, you know I always talk about it. 740 00:47:32,740 --> 00:47:40,020 If you are feeling as though you are rejected like Catriona Gray said once, you're not 741 00:47:40,020 --> 00:47:45,180 denied, you're redirected and if you're feeling as though you're struggling, it's okay. 742 00:47:45,180 --> 00:47:48,420 It's okay to be in those feelings and it's okay to do that but just know that your time 743 00:47:48,420 --> 00:47:55,460 will come and you will find beauty in your pain and that's okay. 744 00:47:55,460 --> 00:47:56,460 Beautiful. 745 00:47:56,460 --> 00:47:57,460 Beautiful. 746 00:47:57,460 --> 00:48:00,140 And where can the listeners connect with you in case they want to learn more about your 747 00:48:00,140 --> 00:48:04,700 story or they have questions or want to just be in touch? 748 00:48:04,700 --> 00:48:11,540 Yeah, so if you're interested in finding my pages, I have Instagram and Facebook. 749 00:48:11,540 --> 00:48:18,460 Facebook is just my name, ariana ramsey and Instagram is ra.m37 if you're interested 750 00:48:18,460 --> 00:48:23,500 in looking at Teenage Canada or Hero Canada. 751 00:48:23,500 --> 00:48:25,700 It's just the names for Instagram. 752 00:48:25,700 --> 00:48:29,820 So hero.canada or Teenage Canada on Instagram. 753 00:48:29,820 --> 00:48:30,820 Great. 754 00:48:30,820 --> 00:48:32,860 We'll make sure to definitely put that in the show notes too. 755 00:48:32,860 --> 00:48:33,860 Thank you. 756 00:48:33,860 --> 00:48:37,500 Thank you so much, Ariana, for joining me on the podcast. 757 00:48:37,500 --> 00:48:42,580 It was such a pleasure talking to you and learning about your journey truly. 758 00:48:42,580 --> 00:48:46,500 For many people, it might be easy to think and tempting to think, oh, Ariana is Miss 759 00:48:46,500 --> 00:48:47,500 Teenage Canada. 760 00:48:47,500 --> 00:48:48,660 She has it all. 761 00:48:48,660 --> 00:48:50,740 She's beautiful, smart, successful. 762 00:48:50,740 --> 00:48:52,380 What can she know about rejection? 763 00:48:52,380 --> 00:48:57,260 But Ariana is certainly successful and her future is bright. 764 00:48:57,260 --> 00:49:01,980 Behind that image of success, she has faced her own share of rejections and painful experiences 765 00:49:01,980 --> 00:49:05,420 that have shaped her into the incredible person she is today. 766 00:49:05,420 --> 00:49:10,380 Rejection is a universal experience and behind every success story, there's often a story 767 00:49:10,380 --> 00:49:12,220 of failure or rejection. 768 00:49:12,220 --> 00:49:16,740 So as cheesy as that sounds, don't be afraid of failure. 769 00:49:16,740 --> 00:49:17,740 Embrace it. 770 00:49:17,740 --> 00:49:21,900 It does help you grow personally and professionally, even though it doesn't feel like that, especially 771 00:49:21,900 --> 00:49:25,780 when you're just in the midst of it, or in the midst of that feeling. 772 00:49:25,780 --> 00:49:29,540 You never know where it might lead you as rejection is often just redirection. 773 00:49:29,540 --> 00:49:32,420 Of course, it's easier said than done, but that's okay. 774 00:49:32,420 --> 00:49:36,260 We're all still learning together and it's a lifelong journey. 775 00:49:36,260 --> 00:49:39,300 I'd love to hear from what you listeners all thought of this episode. 776 00:49:39,300 --> 00:49:43,220 Feel free to DM me to share your thoughts or suggest topics you have been covering future 777 00:49:43,220 --> 00:49:44,220 episodes. 778 00:49:44,220 --> 00:49:49,660 And if you'd like to support the podcast and the content, you can donate at the link by 779 00:49:49,660 --> 00:49:52,660 MiaCoffee.com slash ValeriaRusnak. 780 00:49:52,660 --> 00:49:55,740 I don't remember if that's the right one, but I'll make sure to put that in the show 781 00:49:55,740 --> 00:49:57,260 notes too. 782 00:49:57,260 --> 00:50:01,700 This has been ValeriaRusnak, the host of the Rejected Pre-Met podcast. 783 00:50:01,700 --> 00:50:28,660 I thank you all for listening and I will see you next time.