Miss Universe® Canada 2008 - The Magic Continues

AGE: 19 | HEIGHT: 5'9" | HOMETOWN: MONTREAL, QC

Dayna, a caring and ambitious young woman was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. Of Lebanese heritage, she quickly realized how Montreal's multicultural diversity has contributed to the city's great style and charm.

Proud to call Montreal her home, she grew up cheering for Les Canadiens, taking in the wonderful sounds at the Montreal Jazz Festival, hitting the slopes in the Laurentian community north of Montreal, and enjoying a fabulous brunch with fresh maple syrup at a cabane-a-sucre.

Sponsored by: Mindy Shear Make-Up, Canada Goose, Mimi & Coco, Marie Saint-Pierre, Avanti Spa, Vayola Manufacturing - Theo Kersheh, Danson Décor, Joailleries Assaleh, Fouad Hanna Manufacturing, Family and Friends.

Biography (click to open) ±

Dayna graduated with honors from the Sacred Heart School of Montreal, and completed a pure and applied science dec from Marianopolis College. Currently, Dayna is studying Psychology at Concordia University. Deeply motivated by a desire to succeed, she aspires to become a lawyer. She is fluent in French, English, and is learning Italian and Lebanese.

Dayna values the importance of good physical health, community involvement and education. Athletic as a child, she participated in many sports including tennis, soccer, skiing, snowboarding, volleyball and swimming. A swimmer at heart, she became a certified lifeguard at the age of 16. She continues to work as a lifeguard and teaches swimming courses to people of all ages.

Dayna has many gifts and talents and does not hesitate to try something challenging and new. Unique in her ways, Dayna might not fit the typical image of a "girly girl". Whether it's learning to play the guitar or another language, playing video games, watching sports, or riding motorcycles, Dayna is known to leave her mark.

A natural born leader, Dayna tries to stay fresh, classy and down to earth. She is as comfortable in a pair of old jeans, as she is in the latest fashion trends. She believes that her life experiences and values have helped shape the person she is and more importantly has helped develop her sense of self-confidence, faith and the ability to keep focused on her goals. Dayna believes that balance is the key to a healthy and happy life and strives to achieve this in her everyday life. Dayna exemplifies a woman of the 21st century.

Dayna would like to promote and initiate positive change. As a proud representative of Canada, Dayna would like to demonstrate that being fashionable, intelligent, sexy, health conscious, and most importantly, self-respecting, are always a la mode. She would like to become more involved in organizations, issues and causes that speak to her heart while further engaging other young adults to do the same.

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student? Yes
If yes, where? Concordia University
Area of study: B.Sc Psychology

Are you currently employed? Yes
If yes, what is your occupation? Lifeguard, Swim Team Coach and Swimming Teacher

Have you completed secondary school?
Yes, Honours Secondary V Diploma obtained June 2005
If yes, where? The Sacred Heart School of Montreal

Have you completed university/college? College
If yes, where? Marianopolis College: Pure and Applied Science Dec/CEGEP Degree

Have you completed any technical/professional school? No

Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
English, French and studying Italian and Lebanese/Arabic

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Drama - acting classes
Art - drawing classes
Defibrillator training, CPR certified, heart & stroke first aid certification, national lifeguard, Red Cross Instructor 1

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Swimming for approximately 15 years
Skiing - 15 years
Snowboarding - 5 years
Soccer - 3 years
Tennis - 4 years
Volleyball - 5 years

Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as the area of study, graduation date and any degree or certification you received.
High School: The Sacred Heart School of Montreal - Graduated in 2005 with honours
CEGEP: Marianopolis College - Pure and Applied Sciences: 2005 - 2007 - DEC Received
University: Concordia University - B.Sc Psychology Major - in progress...

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
Community Involvement
Breast Cancer Charities
Cedar Cancer Charity
Girls For The Cure and Heart and Stroke Foundation

What would be your "dream job" in life?
It is important for all to realize that today's woman can achieve career success while still bringing forth her personal charm, beauty, values, love of fashion and art, ability, character, intelligence and of course independence. My ultimate dream job encompasses all of those qualities but most important must be based on passion. Although I am working towards a degree in law, I have always been intrigued by the fashion world.

After working in women's retail, I have acquired a good sense of what everyday women need in their wardrobe and I have a good eye for judging when they do or do not truly feel comfortable in their skin. I strongly believe in keeping a sharp appearance and that feeling good in one's own skin and clothes make the biggest impact on outlook and attitude. I am proud to have been able to help others achieve this feeling and would love to further my abilities to do so.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
The person with the most influence on my life has to be my Jiddo Romeo. For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, Jiddo is the Lebanese word for grandfather. Unfortunately, I have never known my paternal grandfather, and at times I wonder how different and much more wonderful my life could have been if I had known him. When I start feeling the sadness and the loss, I think about how much my Jiddo means to me, and how lucky I am to have such a loving and caring Jiddo. He is my role model and my measure of success. He is funny, warm, and affectionate and above all, he is there for me whenever I need him. I hope he knows how much he means to me and how proud I am to have him as my Jiddo.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)?
My proudest personal accomplishment has to be learning to accept myself. This is something that I, as well as so many young adults, especially girls, struggle with when growing up and it can be difficult. I am more than proud to say that I have finally come to find my happy medium and I would like to make use of my experiences to help others do the same.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to be happy, passionate and successful in my professional life. At this point in time, I am seriously considering a Law degree, and am working hard to maintain a high grade point average in order to do so.
Although I have always been immersed and drawn to the sciences, my interest in law began quite early in life, as I loved to debate and argue my viewpoints all in the name of justice and fairness. I could not see the unfairness and injustices in life and move on. My friends and family would always tell me that I should become a lawyer, especially after an exacerbating discussion.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. My immediate family consists of my parents and younger sister. I attended a local French immersion elementary school, which quickly introduced me to the wonderful Quebecois culture. I would describe my childhood as a happy one surrounded by families and friends.
I spent most of my summer days outside by a pool and my winter weekends were spent on the ski slopes with family and friends. I didn't have an extraordinarily special childhood but I'm blessed to be able to say that I have always felt the love and

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
As previously mentioned, I am a Lifeguard and Red Cross Instructor. Being a lifeguard has been quite eventful since I've experienced some interesting and life threatening situations. On a weekly basis we have lifeguard trainings to make sure our First Aid skills are up to par in the case of any emergency. We have real-life simulations treating everything from heart attacks, spinal victims, and broken bones to a double drowning situatons. I enjoy working within a team and have many irreplaceable memories with the staff. Getting along is important because we all have to share all work chores, whether it’s cleaning the scum line and finding lost children to making friends with the food delivery people. Being a lifeguard has taught me responsibility, independence while emphasizing the importance of working as a team.

List any volunteering you have done.
Throughout my teenage years, I have volunteered throughout my community. One of my favourite events was helping with the local Summerfest. This event was a celebration of St. Jean Baptiste and Canada Day and frequently fell on my birthday. The grand finale was the traditional fireworks display. I would donate my time to help set up face painting kiosks, inflatable games, cotton candy stands and help the magicians. Also, I really enjoyed helping out my co-workers at various pool events, such as swim team competitions, bingo, bubble bath and movie nights.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
Since I am still young, I haven't done much international travelling. I am excited to see other parts of the world but for now, the most interesting place I have been must be the Vieux-Port de Montreal. The Vieux-Port is breathtaking and has a traditional Quebecois atmosphere and is filled with history. Weekly fireworks, souvenir shops, street boutiques, henna stands, Queues de Castor and outdoor entertainment keep the Vieux-Port a popular place during the summer.
The view onto the St Laurent River is surreal and calming especially from various viewpoints. Sometimes I'll just go to the Vieux-Port to take a break from the busy downtown streets. The people, the vibe, the everyday hustle of the Vieux-Port are incomparable to anything else I've seen.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
I am happy to declare that I play video games. There might be a few others in this competition who play as well but I'm really good. I'd probably challenge them to a game of FIFA World Cup 07 or NHL 07. I'm also waiting for springtime to arrive so I can complete the final section to receive a motorcycle license in Quebec. I wanted to learn something new and last summer I completed 2 parts to the license, 1 written and 1 practical where I had 22 hours of practice riding a motorcycle.

Growing up in Montreal would not be the same without hockey. Although I may have mentioned this several times, unless you have spent a night in Montreal on the night of a big hockey game, this may be difficult to understand. Montrealers from all walks of life will gather together, over a beer and chicken wings, to cheer on none other than Les Canadiens. The feeling of community is incomparable to anything else I have ever experienced. Strangers and enemies become friends over a Habs game. Hockey in Quebec is no longer about the game, but the people, the experience and the sense of unity to give our boys the support and determination to stay strong (and hopefully win another Stanley Cup, its 14 years overdue).

Lastly, I couldn't live without winter. I can't resist a fierce Quebec snowstorm; it just isn't winter without -20 degree weather.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
"Dans la vie on ne fait pas ce que l'on veut mais on est responsable de ce que l'on est" - Sartre.
Jean Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, author and father of existentialism in the 1940s France. He made tremendous contributions to philosophy along with his life partner Simone de Beauvoir. This quote is translated to mean that in life, we do not do what we want but we are responsible for who we are. I think this quote speaks for itself.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
The reality of things is that anything can change at any given moment whether it be in 1 week, 1 day or 1 minute. This concept was particularly difficult for me to grasp but I have learned to accept it and understand it as a way of life. So, with respect to that, it is difficult for me to forsee where I will end up in 10 years. As long as I remain true to myself, live without regret and work hard, I believe that I'll be exactly where I'm supposed to be. At 29 years old, as long as I am an established professional with a loving and caring entourage of family and friends and that is enough to make me happy.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
I was born four days overdue and weighed 9 pounds 4 ounces at birth. When I was born the doctor nicknamed me Sasquatch, when they were taking an imprint of my foot. That was the beginning and ever since, I always looked older than my real age. When I was a newborn, people would take me for a 6 month old, when I was sixteen years of age, they thought I was anywhere from my early twenties to 26 years old !

I am your every day girl with drive. I am determined, aware and goal-oriented and I won’t stop at anything. I welcome challenge and I am not afraid to speak my mind. My life experiences, growing up Canadian and my optimistic attitude have all contributed to my unique strength and confidence. I am eager to begin on this next chapter and am humbled to be part of something bigger than myself.