Miss Universe® Canada 2008 - The Magic Continues

AGE: 23 | HEIGHT: 5'7" | HOMETOWN: TORONTO, ON

Born near the town of Chernobyl, Ukraine, Elena's family was forced to move to Russia after the catastrophe of 1986. The family lived there for 11 years before finally moving to Canada.

This business-savvy 23-year old from Toronto has recently attained a Commerce and Finance degree from the University of Toronto and is currently continuing her education with the Canadian Securities Course.

Sponsored by: TS Dental (Michael Shramban), Muzik Nightclub, Via De Napoleon and Show Gallery (Thornhill), Family and Friends.

Biography (click to open) ±

Born into a traditional Eastern European family, Elena possesses a great deal of discipline and respect for family values. Fascinated by all forms of art, Elena has tried herself as a piano musician and a singer. Her true passion, however, lies in sports as Elena completed 9 years of Rhythmic Gymnastics School back in Russia attaining a status of a Candidate to the Master of Sports. Currently, Elena is a co-founder of a professional Latin group-'Rumbon Dance Company'.

Among Elena's best attributes is her outgoing, ready-for-anything personality, which helps her to adopt to any kind of environment. Having survived a catastrophe, Elena truly believes that being a Miss Universe Canada would help her return the favor by traveling across Canada and helping all children in need.

Elena's life goals aspire to be a successful entrepreneur and a great mother. This young woman follows a saying: "the one who wants, is looking for opportunities; the one who does not want, is looking for excuses".

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student?
No

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
Yes. Lobby Lounge and Restaurant- VIP bottle service

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Yes. George S. Henry Academy

Have you completed University/College? If yes, where?
Yes. University of Toronto, St. George Campus

Have you completed any technical/professional school? If yes, which one?
Yes. Canadian Securities Institute (Canadian Securities Course)

Language spoken fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language).
English and Russian

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc.)
Rhythmic gymnastics- 9 years. Music School, piano major- 5 years. Choir- 5 years. Ballroom dancing- 4 years. Professional Latin Dancing - 7 years.

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Rhythmic gymnastics- 9 years. Volleyball- 3 years. Ballroom dancing-4 years. Professional Latin Dancing- 7 years.

Please list any schools and universities (public/private/graduate/trade or technical) you have or are attending, as well as area of study, graduation date and any degree or certificate you receive.
George S. Henry Academy-high school diploma (2003) . University of Toronto- Specialist in Commerce and Finance (2007). Canadian Securities Institute- Canadian Securities Course (2008).

What charity have you supported with your time and/or resources over the past two years?
One of my favourite charities that I have been involved with in the past little while is a "Make a Wish" foundation for the sick kids. I have provided my support by volunteering at the fundraiser. My line of duties was to assist with organizing and running the event so that the Foundation could raise a necessary amount of money for our kids. Other charities that I have recently been involved with and provided my support for include the Canadian Arthritis Society and the Canadian Cancer Society, as well as Fashion Cares.

What would be you "dream job" in life?
Being a leader and having the responsibility of dealing with my own success and failures has always been a part of my character. This is why I believe that being a successful entrepreneur would be my ideal job. Running your own business truly allows you to explore your full potential as a professional and a creative individual and there is really no limit to what you can achieve when you are your own boss.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
One of the people who I really looked up to growing up was my older sister Victoria. While being young kids we never got along because we are mirror images of each other; however, that never stopped me from admiring her character. My love for reading literature was definitely inspired by Victoria among many other things. Without knowing it, she always pushed me to be a better and a more intelligent individual.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)?
Saving a girl who was about to jump over the bridge is among my proudest accomplishments. This was around the time when I just moved to Canada and could not speak the language properly; however, that did not stop me from talking the poor girl out of making the biggest mistake of her life. As a result of this incident I received an award from a local police division.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
Business as a professional field was always of great interest to me. It is because of this interest that I have graduated with a Commerce and Finance degree from the University of Toronto and recently completed Canadian Securities Course. My career ambition is to be an owner of a business, whatever business that might be. Fashion has always been on my 'top interests' list so in the future I would like to combine my love for fashion and my entrepreneurial spirit to make a great success of this endeavor.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born near the town of Chernobyl, Ukraine. My father was an engineer at the power plant where the catastrophe of 1984 originated. At that time my parents were young with two small children on their hands. They had to leave everything and move to a small town in Russia where we lived for 11 years before moving to Canada. Even though my family did not have very much money, my parents always made sure that my sister and I were never in need of anything. Most of all we were never in need of love and nurturing. Growing up I had to struggle with many personal issues that majority of teenagers go through everyday; however, it was easy for me to deal with because I have the most supportive and inspiring parents I could ever ask for.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you have had.
When my family just moved to Canada, my parents did not have enough money to provide my sister and I with any kind of luxuries. Unfortunately, I have been 'cursed' with an expensive taste for clothing and accessories, so I had to find a way to be able to afford it. With just a basic knowledge of English language I found a job as a 'sign' for one of the Real Estate companies (one of those signs that you see along the road but with me inside). It was the most embarrassing job I ever had to do, but it was only a small sacrifice I had to make in order to satisfy my 'wants'.

List any volunteering you have done.
I have volunteered at the Make a Wish Foundation's fundraising event. As a volunteer I had to assist with organizing the event and making sure that the evening goes according to a plan. While still in high school, I have volunteered for two years art the University of Toronto Dance Club as an assistant instructor in Ballroom Dancing. In the previous years I have also been an active participant in the Fashion Cares by being one of the performers.

Where is the most interesting place you have been to?
I believe that Moscow and St. Petersburg are the most interesting places I have been to so far. The two cities are part of the same past but, throughout the years, they have evolved into what seems like different countries. I am very passionate about my culture and history and these two cities are true icons of Russian heritage.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
It is important to acknowledge that everyone is unique in their own way. I attribute my uniqueness to a great balance that I have within myself of a number of talents, as well as professional and interpersonal skills. I have tried myself and achieved outstanding results in many fields from Piano School to professional sports to being a singer in a choir. I am very compassionate towards people in general, because I believe that there is good in all of us. I try to focus on positive things in life and exude as much positivity out of myself as possible. Most importantly, I strive towards being a better person with each new day, because I strongly believe that the energy that you spread is the energy that surrounds you life.

What is your philosophy in life?
I am a strong believer in Karma as I have experienced it myself numerous times. I believe in being the best person you can be and going out of your way, once in a while, to help a stranger so that you can simply feel good about being alive.

What do you hope to be in 10 years?
I hope that in ten years I can have the financial freedom to be able to have four kids and provide my parents with a happy retirement. Most importantly, I hope that in ten years I will be able to maintain a great balance between personal and professional lives.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
One day I was working outside of a restaurant as a hostess and a psychic lady came up to me. An hour earlier my friend and I were talking about children and I said that I would like to have four, two boys and two girls. I also mentioned that I want for the two of the kids to be twins. The psychic lady came up to me and asked for a job. As she was leaving she turned around and said, " Oh by the way, you are going to have four children and two of them are going to be twins, it runs in a family". Dorothy, her name, turned out to be a wonderful and a caring lady who recently passed away. (R.I.P.)