Are you currently a student? If yes, where? Area of study:
No actually I am a recent graduate of the Blanche Macdonald Centre. I completed the fashion, tv and film (special effects) makeup course. The past 11 months were some of the most inspiring, and creative of my life.

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
I am currently self employed as a makeup artist and a model.

Have you completed university/college? If yes, where?
Yes, Blanche Macdonald Centre.

Have you completed any technical/professional school? If yes, where? What subject?
Yes I have. I have completed the full makeup course at Blanche Macdonald Centre. I am trained in makeup fundamentals, cosmetic retailing, bridal and fashion makeup, hair for stage, tv and film, film orientation, makeup for stage, tv and film, special effects makeup, airbrushing, and makeup for prosthetics.

Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
I speak English, and Greek.

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Dramatic arts, studio art, and dance.

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Sports haven't always really been my thing, but I do enjoy being active, whether it's walking my dog, or working out. I played baseball when I was younger for 3 years, and I have also done cheerleading! And believe it or not, I even played rugby for a year!

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 attended Balmoral Hall Private School for Girls for 13 years and graduated in 2005. I also attended The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale studying Fashion Design which is where I ended up discovering my passion for makeup after applying makeup for school fashion shows.

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
The Beauty Nights Society is a place I have been volunteering with for about a year. It is an organization which brings women from the downtown east side together twice a month to share their stories with volunteers and each other about recovering from drug addiction, prostitution, and abuse relationships. We as volunteers are responsible for giving the ladies make-overs, and helping them choose donated clothes to take home with them. We also help them keep their hair, nails, and skin healthy and beautiful by offering facials, manicures, and hair cuts!

Sometimes outter beauty can help give people courage to move on with their lives, and confidence to face the world every day. I feel I am lucky to be able to participate with this particular group of women. The women leave beauty nights feeling loved, beautiful, and inspired to keep moving forward with their recoveries and looking forward to the return to their family of volunteers at the Beauty Nights Society.

What would be your "dream job" in life?
My dream job in life would be someone who inspires people, and makes them feel beautiful inside and out. Simple as that! Oh yea...and being Miss. Universe Canada of course!

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
My brother Pantelis, and my sister Marissa. We are all very close in age and have been through everything in life together from Greek Church Picnic's to more, and more, greek church picnics, greek easter celebrations, greek sunday dinners...you get the point! Pantelis, and Marissa have influenced my life in so many ways. Always having my big bro to look up to and make me laugh even in the worst of situations, and my little sister to back me up 100% in what ever I do, I don't know what I would do without them!

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)?
My proudest personal accomplishment was graduating from Blanche Macdonald and recieving my makeup diploma. After high school I was really nervous and didn't exactly know what I wanted to do with my life. I feel so lucky that I found my passion and achieved my training so I can make a career out of it at such a young age. I really believe that finding your passion is finding your path to success.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career ambition is to become a well known makeup artist, known for my makeup talent and my way with people. Being known as not only someone who can make somebody look beautiful from the outside but make someone feel beautiful on the inside also! In other words bring their inner beauty out by giving them the confidence by looking their best.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born in Limassol, Cyprus, and moved to Winnipeg Manitoba when I was really little. I grew up with my mom dad, older brother Pantelis, and younger sister Marissa. My family is full of culture and very loud! My dad was (and still is!) strict with us, after all he is Greek! I feel my parents shaped the person I am today. My morals are rooted from as long as I can remember.

I was taught self respect and self discipline from a young age and continue to live my life with those morals. I had a very happy childhood, I was an energetic little girl always eager to impress, with big goals that I am fullfilling day by day. I like to think that the little Stephanie I used to be would be very proud of her grown up self!

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
Modeling. I think it is the strangest job. Getting paid to have your picture taken, and attempting to capture all these emotions, and stories into one photograph I think is a challenge, and yes, at times, very unusual. For example! I have been photographed in an evening dress in dirty freezing cold water, in the pouring rain, it doesn't get much stranger than that.

List any volunteering you have done.
The women in my family are big into volunteering so it is kind of a family thing. Alot of my volunteer work has been along side my mom and/or sister!
Beauty Nights Society with my sister!
Modeled jewlery for charity with my sister!
Breast Cancer fundraising with my mom!
Raising money for The Childrens Museum with my mom!
Helping take blood donations in Cyprus with my Aunty Katie!
Volunteering at a daycare for less fortunate children.
Variety Club for Kids
Terry Fox Run
and much more!

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
The most interesting place I have been would be the place I was born! Cyprus! I find it a very interesting place for many reasons, one being the simple fact that it has over 9000 years of history!

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
First of all! I have never been in a pagent before. I feel I am a very real, well rounded woman due to my upbringing with two totally different and unique parents.

What is your philosophy of/in life?
I find that the following quotes sum up my philosophy of life:
"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger"
"Dance like there's nobody watching
Love like you'll never get hurt
Sing like there's nobody listening
Live like it's heaven on earth
And speak from the heart to be heard."
-William W. Purkey

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
Ten years from now I would like to have my own family because I love children. At the same time I would like to have a successful business in the fashion/makeup industry.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
The most unique thing that happened to me was experiencing hurricane Wilma. I was with a group of my closest friends in Florida. During the hurricane was terrifying but after the hurricane was the hardest part. Living without water or electricity was really difficult! From waiting in a 2 hour line in the boiling sun to get a bag of ice (one each!), then trying to keep it cold (with no working freezer) to trying to cook without any electricity.

My family was not in Florida at the time so it was just me and my friends which we now refer to ourselves as the "Hurricane Family". We had to fend for ourselves and come up with creative ideas to stay well and of course entertained! It was a fun, scary, crazy experience which I learned alot from, and most importantly brought the hurricane family together!