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

Madalina Bejgu was born in Bucharest, Romania, arriving in Canada with her family at the tender age of six. For a young woman, independence and determination came early, as she headed back to Romania at the age of twelve, alone.

Living with her grandmother during her teenage years, she was granted the freedom and choice to express herself, this kindled her creative energy. Educated at the National College of Bucharest (E.R.), she achieved an International Baccalaureate Diploma. During her time at college she excelled in many sports, including volleyball, track and field, figure skating and swimming. Upon her graduation, she returned to Canada at the age of 19.

Madalina enjoys spending time with her many friends in the cafes and shops around Toronto. In the summer, she enjoys hiking, outdoor fitness, rollerblading and swimming and in the winter she loves to go skating at the local rink, or skiing at Blue Mountain. She believes in the rewards of hard work, as she studies the many Canadian masters and contemporary artists featured at Gallery 260 in Toronto, where she is curator.

Sponsored by: Exotica Investments, Gallery 260, Paris Boutique, Family and Friends.

Are you currently employed? If yes, what is your occupation?
Yes, Curator


Have you completed secondary school? If yes, where?
Yes, Romania Bucharest


Languages spoken Fluently (please include your native language if English is not your native language)
English, Romanian, Spanish


List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Art classes; Drawing and Painting, Rhythmic Gymnastics


In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?
Track and Field -3years ; Softball -2years;Volleyball-year; Rhythmic Gymnastics- 1 year; figure Skating -1 year; Aerobics-2 years, Swimming- 2 years; Basketball- 6months


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.
-National College of Bucharest, Emil Racovita, graduated in 2005, obtained a Baccalaureate Diploma and a Bachelor in English Certificate.
-York University, double majoring in Communication Studies and Psychology-completed 1 year.


What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
Breast Cancer Foundation, Mount Sinai Hospital.
Sick Children Hospital
Casey House -Aids Foundation
Canadian Blood Services


What would be your "dream job" in life?
I believe that a dream job for me would be the kind of job that I fulfil with passion, enthusiasm and devotion .It doesn't necessarily have to be in a particular field ,it has to offer me the freedom of being myself, the opportunity of demonstrating my capabilities and the satisfaction of making a difference.


Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
I would have to say Nadia Comaneci (1976 Summer Olympics Winner of five Olympic gold medals, and the first gymnast to be awarded a perfect score of 10)not only has she proven perfection in the athletic and artistic field but she exceeded the expectations of the whole world and imagination of any jury .This is a living proof of achievement and world recognition, surpassing the not so favorable circumstances of that time; creating a milestone in the athlete's world and the perfect role model for anyone ,anywhere ,anytime.
She is my inspiration…


What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)
I think that my proudest personal accomplishment is achieving the wisdom of overcoming obstacles. Throughout the years I have taught myself to maintain a positive attitude in life and value the good side of any situation. I believe that mentally I have succeeded in accomplishing that balance in any given circumstance .I am truly proud to be able to make such a statement.


What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?
My career goal is to be a television broadcaster, I am planning to go back to school in the near future, and work hard to make that a reality.


Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
Ever since I was just a little bundle of joy, I was raised by my loving grandparents; My parents divorced when I was three years old, I was too little to remember or to have felt the tragedy of the moment. My mother came to Canada immediately, where she made arrangements to bring me in the near future.

My grandparents made sure that I would grow up in a harmonious environment, where I can build the happiest memories of my life. My childhood years were similar to The Huckleberry Finn novel, in a time that most children would resume to computers, video games and other gadgets that eclipse the true happiness of the simple things, I would actually spend my days, bike riding, playing from dawn till dusk in the middle of nature, going fishing with my grandpa, participating in all the neighbourhood sports, having 20 children to chose from when I wanted to go and play and so much more. I was lucky, benefiting from full attention from my retired grandparents I was surrounded by affection to the point that I was sentimentally spoiled. But never the least my grandfather had thought me the boundaries of work and play; he had prepared me ever since I was four years old for the day I would come to Canada, each day of our lives he would spend one hour teaching me the English language, which helped me a lot when I first stepped foot here. Another important detail of my early years would be the fact that my mom successfully completed the role of both parents and shaped me in the person I am today.

There is so much more to say about my childhood that I would literally have to write a book, but the basic of what makes my heart jump of joy up until this moment has been included in this brief paragraph.


List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I currently work as a curator, and I believe that so far in my life this would be the most interesting job I had. Being able to research the Canadian Art History, getting familiar with the talents of our country as well as with the people that revolve in the art field is truly an intellectual and spiritual rewarding job. It cultivates my geographical knowledge when visualizing paintings of landscapes throughout Canada as well as the understanding of the artistic world that surrounds us in our daily lives.


List any volunteering you have done.
The Santa Claus Parade


Where is the most interesting place you have been?
I would say that I had the opportunity to pin some countries in my life but out of all of them I am most fascinated by Canada, nowhere in the world do you see as much multiculturalism and as much respect towards it. It is very interesting to live n country in which you can experience so many cultures. In a very strange way it seems like you are travelling the world in one single place.


What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?
I praise the challenge and value the opportunity of being here and I am well prepared for the outcome.


What is your philosophy of/in life?
~Be the Difference you want to see in the world~ I believe that if you want to change humanity or stimulate it in a positive direction you should first start with yourself, because it is so much easier to become a role model in the hope that people will follow, then to struggle to create ones around you. And in the end if the desired result is not achieved, you have not failed, you still made one difference ...yourself.


What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?
Even when you think you have your life all mapped out, things happen that shape your destiny in ways you might never have imagined. It is not, what will I be doing 10 years from now that is important it is what I do every day and every year, and make the best of it for 10 years to come. I hope I accumulate enough knowledge and experience that can help me achieve the goals I set for myself, whether they change from day to day or they remain the same. I hope that I will be doing something worthwhile and that no matter what the moment is in my life I am happy with what I am doing.


Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?
I have always fought a sentimental battle between my native country and Canada and as a result my early childhood years up until late adolescence were marked by an unique experience. At the age of six I came to Canada and enrolled in elementary school till grade six, I had a difficult time adapting, while missing the presence of my grandparents and friends. Every summer I would spend back home until one year when I was around 12 years of age, I decided not to hop back on my plane at the end of my vacation. To my grandparents delight I decided to continue school in Romania, where I remained till I graduated high school, and lived a very active social life surrounded by my many friends and loved ones. At the end of high school I returned to Canada hoping to build a better future I enrolled in to university and embarked on a new journey...once again. I pretty much ping- ponged my way through adolescence, making it difficult for me to keep friends and learning more how to deal with detachment. But in a way it helped me experience the Canadian culture as well as still appreciate and know my own, all in the same time.