Miss Universe® Canada 2008 - The Magic Continues

AGE: 21 | HEIGHT: 5'6" | HOMETOWN: OTTAWA, ON

Charismatic, goal-oriented, out-going, and tender-hearted 21 year old Sharon Philipose is a full-time student at the University of Waterloo.

She is entering her second year in Kinesiology, and aspires to pursue a career as a Physiotherapist after finishing an Undergraduate degree. Growing up in Ottawa, Ontario, she has had strong influences from both her parents, as well as from her two older siblings.

Sponsored by: Ballett's - The Wedding Specialists, Family and Friends.

Biography (click to open) ±

Sharon comes from a multicultural ethnicity that illustrates Canada's society today. She is a unique blend of East Indian and Euro-Canadian descent. Sharon possesses a strong empathy that drives her to serve the physical needs of people from a potpourri of different backgrounds.

Sharon is a talented young individual with a love for trying new things and meeting new people. Family and friends like to call her 'The Social Butterfly'. She loves alternative sports and has participated competitively in rhythmic gymnastics for four years, and danced ballet from the tender age of five.

She is level headed, and ready to lend a hand wherever her abilities can be used. Having a well-rounded world view and approach to life is a critical aspect of her personality.

Sharon completed two year of Dental Assistantship training which involved practical work experience in addition to academics. At the end of that period, she decided that she would like to take her academic pursuits further. With determination and vision, she obtained the extra courses she needed to be successfully admitted to the University of Waterloo.

In her spare time, Sharon enjoys swimming, dancing, reading, traveling, working out, and spending time with her family.

If she receives the honour of being selected Miss Universe Canada, Sharon hopes to use the opportunity to represent Canada as a nation that cares deeply about important issues, and will strive to put her best foot forward with beauty, insight and compassion.

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student? If yes, where? Area of study:
Yes. The University of Waterloo. Kinesiology

Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Yes. Sacred Heart Catholic High School (Stittsville, Ontario)

Have you completed university/college? If yes, where?
Yes. I have completed college. Algonquin College in Ottawa, Ontario for Dental. I have not completed University; I am assisting (levels 1& 2)

Languages spoken fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
English

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Rhythmic Gymnastics form age 12-16 years old
Ballet on and off from age 4-10 years old, and currently taking Ballet classes to improve grace and body awareness
Art Classes in high school (age 14-15)

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
I participated on a Rhythmic Gymnastics team for four years with a group of five girls. We competed with other teams within the region as well as other teams with in the province. In high school I casually played soccer and basketball for leisure. I am a member at my University gym, where I work out 3-5 days a week.

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.
Sacred Heart Catholic High School: Received High School Diploma, June 2004
Algonquin College: Received Certification/ Diploma in Dental Assisting Levels 1 & 2, November 2005
Waterloo University: Studying 1st year Honours Kinesiology, of a four year program, Graduation in 2011

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
I have supported the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child where shoe boxes of small Christmas gifts are distributed to children across the world to underdeveloped countries.

What would be your "dream job" in life?
My dream job would be a health care professional in the field of Physiotherapy. I would hope to work in a hospital setting or have a private practice of my own. I dream of being able to help others to overcome physical challenges, so that they can go on to live life to the fullest.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
Being the youngest of three, both my sister and brother have had the most influence in my life. Growing up I always looked up to them in their achievements, and aspired to have the same success in my life. They both had excellent marks in school, and have made it through University successfully. Many times in my struggles they gave me much encouragement.

Their success and encouragement have helped me be in the place I am today. They always taught me that my abilities are just as good as anyone else's, and if I wanted success in life that I must take my hard work into as many opportunities as I can. I feel much appreciation for their positive influence in my life.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition?)
I am proudest of my academic achievements. My acceptance into the University of Waterloo was my proudest accomplishment. I was under looked academically in high school, and I was able to overcome my academic challenges two years after my graduation to obtain the correct courses and grades to be admitted into this university.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to obtain a professional degree as a Physiotherapist. I dream of helping others in the rehabilitation sector of the health care system with their muscular-related injuries. I am currently in a four-year discipline of Kinesiology to obtain am undergraduate degree. This will lead me into a masters program where I can study Physiotherapy.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born in Toronto, but raised in Ottawa, Ontario. My family moved to the capital to be closer to family. My grandparents owned a dairy farm as well as growing crops in the fields. We often visited them, and they let us run around freely outside to expand our imaginations and burn off some energy. I spent a lot of my childhood playing with the neighbours and the kids from school.

My mother always called me 'the social Butterfly' of the family. I was always very active and loved to swim or play jump rope. We were not able to travel much as a family, given our financial situation, but we always managed to have a great time no matter where we went. One of my fondest memories includes roller blading in the park with my entire family, as well as visiting Marineland to see the water mammals.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I worked as a Dental Assistant for one year with a Prostodontist. This was my first placement in a dental office after graduating. After three months of being in the office all of the staff had quit. This gave me the challenge of working both administration duties as well as my assigned clinical duties.

List any volunteering you have done.
In my church I have given my time to help spring clean the exterior and interior of the building after it had undergone major construction.
During the summer of my high school years, I volunteered with a day camp. I assisted in leading young children in various activities.
Locally, I volunteer at a soup kitchen where I serve meals and speak with the homeless.

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
When I was 14 years old, I had the opportunity to visit the east coast of Canada, to P.E.I. with a close friend and her family. Once I arrived on the beach, it was truly humbling to see with my own eyes the North Atlantic Ocean. I reflected to myself thinking about how large this massive body of water is in comparison to me, and I instantly felt so small. Then I picked up a small rock, and threw it as far as I could into the ocean waters.

I saw this small rock make ripples into the water. These ripples inspired me that even a small action can make a difference in this world. I knew at that moment that I could make a difference, make a wave.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
One of the qualities that will make me stand out among the other contestants is my genuine, tranquil spirit, which gives me the ability to show compassion towards others in need. I am easy to get along with, and I work well in a team. I am goal oriented, and my motivation stems from a strong, charismatic inner being.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
At this stage in my life, my philosophy is that you can achieve any dream or goal in life if you put your mind to it. I believe that in the mind there is power, power to make a difference for either you or the people around you. It is about taking risks, and trying new things to see what you are capable of, and how far you can take your dreams.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
In ten years I Hope to have completed my post-secondary education and be working towards building a strong foundation for my career as a Physiotherapist. I also hope to have traveled to many countries to experience different cultures on a first-hand basis.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
When I completed high school I lacked a sense of direction, and I had not discovered what my purpose was in this world. As I began college in 2005, I was able to learn my strengths and see myself as an individual that can contribute back to my society through a higher level of education. I was developing a winners attitude, one that would not give up nor allow any obstacle prevent me from getting to my goal.

After graduating I worked in a Dental Office where I was given a lot of responsibility very suddenly. At first it was overwhelming but I was able to take on the load with grace. Where as a year prior to this experience I thought that I would never be able take on many responsibilities as I did, and carry the office though that challenging time. After working full-time for a year, I was beginning to think about the next step in life. So I went back to school to take a few prerequisite courses for University.

With keeping my goal in mind I performed I exceptionally in school. Today I have learned that anyone who wants something enough in life can achieve it, if only they desire it enough themselves to make the changes. There is no such thing as failure, as long as when you fall you pick yourself back up and try again. I believe there is always a lesson to learn even if you don't make what seems to be the right choice at the time, you will gain something from that experience and be able to make better choices in the future.