Are you currently a student? Yes
If yes, where? York University.
Area of study: Business Administration (Marketing).

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
Yes. I work at Slava Tch Art Company as an Artists Representative.

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Yes, in Toronto.

Have you completed university/college? If yes, where?
In process of obtaining a degree.

Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
English, Russian (native).

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Painting/drawing, Copper Enameling, photography, ballet dancing (during childhood), Cooking, Literature/Writing.

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Tennis (from early childhood 10 years old up to now)
During my childhood I learnt to play all of the most popular sports including badminton, volleyball, basketball, soccer, ping pong, hockey, rollerblading, skating, skiing and occasionally pursue these as leisure activities.

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.
Attended gymnasium of English language in Russia.
Completed French Language bursary program at University of Ottawa sponsored by Government of Canada.
In the process of acquiring Business Administration degree from York University and planning to acquire an Art History Degree during the next 5 years.

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
Over the past two years have supported Breast Cancer Foundation charity, sick kids hospital and Salvation Army.

What would be your "dream job" in life?
My dream job would incorporate art, marketing and business. Expanding my knowledge and advancing skills in painting, drawing and writing. Denying intimidation of visual arts and validating art as a business through marketing and education.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
My grandfather has had the most influence on my life. During World War II he was a land tank driver/operator and has saved fellow soldiers from burning land tank twice while operating the machine. After the war though most of his body was burned he became a successful agronome during Soviet regime. He has seen every aspect of life, failure, struggle, incompetence, success and taught me that "impossible is nothing". No matter where life takes you always stay true to yourself only so you can achieve desired.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)?
Perceiving "Fine Artist" as a valid profession at Slava TCH, an established Canadian art company, selling, promoting and marketing artworks throughout the world and having had the experience of working at trade shows and exhibits such as ArtExpo New York, ArtExpo San Francisco, Art21 Las Vegas, Art Buyers Caravan Atlanta, Interior Design Show Toronto.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
Ideally I would love to open an art centre for adults and kids to pursue visual arts and learn the business aspects of fine art professions. Right now I'm studying general business practices and marketing theory. Due to scarcity of available courses for art marketing I read a lot of material on this subject. In my spare time I continue to paint and write in order to achieve advancement.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
Born in Ukraine and raised in Russia, I immigrated to Canada with my family at the age of fourteen. Both of my parents are artists painters and I spent most of my childhood in art studios watching sculptors, artists, designers and craftsman at work. It was most fascinating world, very unusual and very different from the ordinary. I spent hours watching and trying to accomplish the same. First time I participated at an art show I was eight years old. Also I took ballet classes and had my first group performance at the age of 6 at the main Kursk Theatre. During my years in Gymnasium of English Language I played tennis on competitive level and during holidays had traveled to Ukraine, France, Poland, Bulgaria, and Germany acting as a translator. My childhood is full of vivid memories of beautiful countryside and busy cities.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
As an artist representative I have extensively traveled North America and have met a lot of interesting people. For example during ArtExpo New York our neighbour was Mr. Spiridon a friend and follower of Salvatore Dali. In ArtExpo San Francisco we exhibited along with Representative of Prince Charles, who showcased beautiful watercolours of Prince Charles. You meet people from different countries, backgrounds, education, and professions and learn something new with each encounter but nevertheless you see art is a silent language uniting in us in endeavors.

List any volunteering you have done.
Participated in writing project with authors Lawrence Hill and Daniel David Mosses for which have received recognition of Lieutenant Governor of Ontario (1999) the Honourable Hillary M. Weston for writing skills and was published by the Oakville Arts Council in a book "Telling a Different Story II (2000)".
Volunteered at "Sunfest" Festival, London's International Children's Festival and attended Junior Achievement Program (London, Ontario).

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
Recently my parents have moved to White Rock, British Columbia. I would say that the beauty of this little hillside town located on the ocean amazed me. During February in one hour you can see palm trees covered with snow just to be washed with the rain during the second hour. It could be snowing on one side of the street while the other side would be exposed to sunshine. Flowers are blooming year round, beautiful mountains, ocean and lots of forests remind you of how tiny and incompetent we are with the nature.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
I'm sincere, passionate, honest, down to earth and am real me. I try to do everything to the best of my abilities and I admit my mistakes and try to work on them. I don't believe in perfectionism everyone deserves chances and opportunities. I'm a real person and can relate to all issues, which are of concern to youth today. I had a hard time getting accustomed to new county and had to grow, realize and solve a lot of issues and concerns with my education, relationships, surroundings. I learnt fast that knowing the real you and being yourself is more important than fitting in. And once you do find that happiness within your heart you tend to share it with every body.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
My life motto is a Latin saying: "Audentes fortuna juvat", meaning "Fortune Favours the Bold."
Life is very beautiful and you have to live every moment to the fullest. While doing everything to the best of my abilities I try to find the balance between heart and mind.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
During the next 10 years I hope to obtain my second degree and be successfully pursuing my professional carrier as an artist and business-marketing advisor. I plan to have a family and to accomplish my goal of opening up an art centre for kids and adults validating visual arts as a professional endeavor.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
While I was a child I had long hair, and always had a braid, and nevertheless a lot of people would confuse me with being a boy instead of a girl. For me it was very upsetting since little girls always want to be treated as princesses. Now memory of this makes me smile.