Miss Universe® Canada 2008 - The Magic Continues

AGE: 24 | HEIGHT: 5'7" | HOMETOWN: ABBOTSFORD, BC

Growing up within a rich culture which emphasizes living a life of passion has helped Karelya overcome a tremendous amount of adversity in order to be where she is at today.

Karelya was born and raised on the island of Cuba. There she studied school and dance at El Gran Teatro de la Habana- Sala Federico Garcia Lorca. Later she moved to British Columbia, Canada with her single mother and younger sister in search of a brighter future.

Sponsored by: Vastra Entertainment, Tang Photography, Felicia Brombra Make-up, Family and Friends.

Biography (click to open) ±

Inspired by her new home and the diversity of the culture around her, she realized the impact that different social groups had on society as a whole. Karelya had come to realize that in order to truly improve the lives of people, it would take not just a change at the local level, but also a change in our laws. Karelya began developing an interest in the Canadian judicial system. In high school she developed her English skills and found career direction through dance and the study of Law.

Since arriving to Canada, Karelya has performed flamenco for numerous events, modeled for various shows and events, and has completed her Liberal Arts Diploma and Criminal Justice Diploma. She is fluent in Spanish, Italian, English, and French and she has dedicated a part of her life to many different charitable organizations. The rich and varied experiences of Karelya's life - growing up in different places with people who had different ideas - have transcended Karelya's journey and belief system into what it is today.

Karelya is nearly finished her degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in French. After that she plans to attend law school and then ultimately to work for the United Nations and deal with international affairs. Karelya wants to inspire women everywhere to live a life of passion and to pursue their dreams tirelessly and relentlessly.

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student? If yes, where? Area of study:
I am currently a student of the Criminal Justice Program at the University College of the Fraser Valley.

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
I volunteer in my community.

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Prince George Secondary School, Prince George, British Columbia.

Have you completed university/college? If yes, where?
I have completed the Criminal Justice Diploma as well as the Liberal Arts Diploma at the University College of the Fraser Valley.

Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
I speak Spanish, Italian, English, and French. Spanish is my native language, then Italian which I learned from my mother. I later studied English and French at school, and once I moved to Canada I continued to improve my English skills as well as my French skills. I will have a minor in French at the same time as receiving my Criminal Justice major degree.

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
I have a strong passion for dancing Flamenco. I started dancing at the age of 10 at El Gran Teatro de la Habana- Sala Federico Garcia Lorca in Cuba, and have been dancing ever since. Because I am a full time student, it can be challenging to fit in extra curricular activities, so I volunteer to dance at different community events and fundraisers. This gives me the opportunity to contribute to my community and still dance.

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
While in high school I played volleyball and basketball. I love to run, and that's something I continue to do.

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.
I am currently attending the University College of the Fraser Valley where I am nearly finished my Criminal Justice Degree with a French Minor.

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
I regularly volunteer for The Greater Vancouver Foodbank Society as well as for the Salvation Army.
What would be your "dream job" in life?
I have 2 passions in life, one is to advocate and defend the rights of people and second to teach others the art of Flamenco while promoting health and well being. Working for the United Nations and dealing with international affairs would give me the opportunity to reach out as many people as I can. I would also like to have my own dance studio and teach children. It is important for children to develop healthy skills and abilities early in life which will ultimately become their habits later in life.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
A person that has had the most influence in my life is Winston Sayson, my mentor and Crown Prosecutor at the Surrey Crown Counsel Office. I had the great opportunity to meet Winston 2 years ago during my field practicum. It was the most rewarding experience that I have ever had. It was a bit scary at first because I had just been given the opportunity to experience the job that I have always dreamed of, and I didn't know whether or not I was going to like it.

Winston's passion for helping others resonated with my heart and gave me clarity as to what I wanted to do. He is truly an inspiration and his knowledge and experience in the field makes him an important figure in my life. I strongly believe in surrounding myself with the people I look up to because I know that ordinary people can do extraordinary things with the proper leadership and mentorship.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)
The realization that anything is possible when you put your heart and mind to it. I never thought, given my upbringings, I would have the opportunity to pursue the things that meant the most to me. Since coming to Canada, I went from living in a small town, to moving to the city, completing a diploma in Criminal Justice and Liberal Arts, entering the modeling industry, performing Flamenco in front of hundreds of people, being in magazines and on TV, but most importantly having the opportunity to meet successful people. Hearing their personal stories have inspired me further and also made me absolutely certain that the greatest growth comes when people make it through the darkest moments.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to advocate for the rights of people. To reach out to as many people as possible and help them, inspire them, give them the gift of realizing that anything is possible when focused on with passion. Working for the United Nations will give me a good platform to make the greatest impact. I am nearly finished my Criminal Justice Degree and I will be attending law school to complete a law degree. Once I have completed my law degree, I will be on my way to seek a Legal Affairs position with the United Nations.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born in Havana, the charming capital of Cuba. Growing up I was raised with my younger sister Karen by my grandparents while our parents went to work. They instilled core values and skills that I am eternally grateful for. I enjoyed my childhood for the most part, the innocence of not really knowing what was going on in society shielded me from reality. I enjoyed school, dancing Flamenco, and playing with friends.

But the realities of living in Cuba started to become apparent with age. The socialist peso economy that Cuba has, provides the people with free education, free health care, universal employment, unemployment compensation, disability and retirement benefits and the basis necessities of life: food, housing, utilities and some entertainment at a very low cost. But the Cuban economy was hit hard in the early 1990s following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Comecon economic bloc, with which it had traded predominantly.

The economic crisis made it difficult for my parents to provide, creating some instability in the family. Later, the separation of my parents also made it difficult for me to stay focussed in school and my other activities. Nevertheless, I continued to hold on to my dreams. My mother worked very hard to support the family and her perseverance inspired me and gave me hope for a better future. The situation was not easy, but she still made sure that my sister and I stayed on track with our education and dance lessons.

In search of a brighter future, I moved to Canada at the age of 14, with my single mother and my younger sister, where I realized that I could dream without limits. Moving here I noticed that everyone worked and dedicated most of their life working for someone and trying to maintain a decent living. I realized that a huge amount of passion and hope is needed to fuel big dreams, to free yourself from the typical job and really enjoy life, while at the same time making a difference in the lives of people that wouldn't otherwise get that chance.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
Tim Hortons was definitely an interesting job that I had. I never realized how many people depended on their morning coffee. Later I understood that mornings are very important to start off right, whether it's by having a nutritious breakfast, going for a run, or having that cup of coffee. A good indicator of how your day will turn out can always come back to the morning routine.

List any volunteering you have done.
Relay for Cancer, Black History Month, Festival of the Trees, Children's Festivals, Multicultural Events, ALPR (Automatic License Plate Recognition).

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
Disneyland. Going there was truly a magical experience. I highly recommend it!

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
The adversity I have faced and my life experiences that have brought me to this moment in life; as well as my unique ability to connect with the people I meet.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
Keep the small promises to yourself, plan your days while keeping on track to long term goals, and have a clear vision of what you want in your life. Whatever you feel with your heart will become clear and your life will be on a transcending journey of realizations.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
Ten years from now I see myself working as a lawyer, advocating for the rights of people. I will be heavily involved in the community and a philanthropist, dedicating my time for the people who need it the most.