Miss Universe® Canada 2010

AGE: 22 | HEIGHT: 6'0" | HOMETOWN: CONCORD, ON

Aleksandra Malkin is an ambitious, caring and energetic individual. She is dedicated to the people she loves and the goals she sets for herself. Aleksandra comes from an Eastern European background and immigrated to Canada at the age of ten. She is grateful to be a Canadian, living in such an accepting and multicultural country which she is proud to call her home.

Full of life, exuding confidence and kindness at all times, Aleksandra is an advocate for staying positive and is a strong believer that any individual has the power to cause change. Her interest in Non-profit organizations was sparked when Travelling to Nicaragua in 2008, Aleksandra saw the need to raise awareness and provide aid to countries in need. She continues to be a strong supporter of organizations such as the American Nicaraguan Foundation and SOS children's Villages, helping to raise awareness and funding through events she has coordinated on their behalf.

After taking a year off to travel and work, she is currently continuing her Bachelor of Science Degree at York University. She believes that "knowledge is power" which is why she strives to continuously challenge herself in everything she does. Aleksandra believes in leading a healthy and active lifestyle and her interests include travel, theatre, reading, and spending time with the loved ones in her life. She would be honoured to be an ambassador with the miss universe Canada organization, and would strive to be a strong role model for all women.

Sponsored by: Pragmatic, The Roosevelt Room Supper Club, Krudar Muay Thai, Royal & Wild Jewelry, Brazen Hussy, MG mode, Bellair Tan, Rose Hair Creations,, Family and Friends.

Questionnaire (click to open) ±

Are you currently a student?
If yes, where? York University
Area of study:
Life sciences

Took one year off of University to travel and work
I Am continuing my degree September 2010.

Are you currently employed? Yes
If yes, what is your occupation?
Operations Manager , Supper club
The Roosevelt Room

Have you completed secondary school?
If yes, where?
Unionville Fine Arts High school

Markham, Ontario

Have you completed university/college?
If yes, where?

-Took one year off of University for travel and work
Undergraduate –Life sciences BSC degree ( Continuing my degree September 2010).

Have you completed any technical/professional school?
If yes, where?
Unionville Fine Arts program for the Dramatic Arts

What subject?
Dramatic Theatre Arts

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

List any special training you have had (music, art, drama, dance, etc).
Dramatic Arts Training, theatrical performances.
Rhythmic gymnastics.

In what sports, if any, have you participated and how long have you participated in each sport?

Basketball -2 years
Rhythmic gymnastics-4 years

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.
Unionville High school- honours student
Unionville high school- fine arts Diploma (Drama)
York University – life sciences 3rd year university

What charity/charities have you supported with your time and/or resources over past two years?
SOS Childrens Villages Canada
– www.soschildrensvillages.ca

Think Don’t Shoot-“empowering youth through awareness and education”
– www.thinkdontshoot.com

American Nicaraguan foundation
-www.aidnicaragua.org

Canadian Breast cancer Foundation
-www.cbcf.org

What would be your "dream job" in life?
My “ideal job” would consist of travelling and visiting different parts of the world.
A dream come true is to be in a profession that would allow me to learn about different cultures and people, as well as contributing to my own personal growth.
I believe that in order to truly learn more about who we are we need to allow ourselves to become more diverse, this includes trying different professions/jobs.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life? Why?
My grandmother Larisa, she has been one of the most influential and independent women I know.
A single mother, raising two boys on her own in a tough, low income environment, yet still succeeded in receiving her PhD in English Literature while raising a family.

She taught me that “knowledge is power “and that it is the one thing that nobody can ever take away from you. She always pushes me to try different things and expand my horizons, no matter what it takes. I am truly lucky to have her play such a great role in my life.

What is the proudest personal accomplishment (other than being in this or any other beauty pageant competition)

One of my proudest accomplishments was being able adapt into a brand new country at the age of ten, leaving all of what I was used to behind.
When I had immigrated to Canada in 2000, I felt that it would be impossible for me to fit into this beautiful yet unfamiliar “new world”.
However, In the matter of 4 months I was reading, writing and communicating in English as if it were my native language. I learned how to adapt to any situation no matter the circumstances.

What is your career ambition and what are you doing or plan to do to accomplish that goal?

I always knew that I wanted to get into the health care sector. Ever since I was a little girl, I would play pretend doctor and was convinced I would somehow “change the world”. In May of 2008, I was lucky to have travelled to Nicaragua with beauties of Canada, SOS children’s villages and the American Nicaraguan Foundation. I saw how much hard work and dedication these organizations have put forth to provide stability and self sustainability in underprivildiged parts of the world. This experience made me realize how much more I want to learn and get involved with non-profit organizations and their contribution around the world.

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.
I was born in Russia and raised in Israel until the age of ten.
I was always raised in a community oriented environment and was taught that your neighbours are your family.
Even though my parents had to work late hours, my household was full of love and adventures. My sister and I were home alone the majority of the day, which forced us to be creative on how keep ourselves busy.
Believe it or not, I was quite the “tom boy” growing up, pretending I was “nature girl” climbing on trees and running around with the neighbourhood kids.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.
I’ve been working since I was twelve years old and had many kooky and interesting positions along the way. However, one of the most interesting jobs I held, was a telemarketing job for the Toronto Star when I was thirteen years old. You really have to learn how to handle rejection when you are constantly being hung up on. Now at the age of twenty two ,even if I am not interested in what telemarketers are selling, I am as polite as can be and stay on the phone for as long as needed, that is because I know exactly what they are going through.

List any volunteering you have done.
Maple Community Centre- After school science and English tutoring sessions.
SOS Children’s Villages/ American Nicaraguan Foundation- Held fundraising events/ fashion show and silent auctions
Heart and Stroke Foundation- Helped organize the skip rope children’s events to help raise awareness and increase activity levels in youth
One x one affairs and galas
Breast Cancer Foundation- participated in Fashion show for “designs by Naomi” to help raise breast cancer awareness

Where is the most interesting place you have been?
I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many beautiful and intriguing places around the world. However, when visiting China in 2009 we hiked 7.5 KM up a mountain in the province of Henan, as well as visiting one of the most sacred temples in the world the “Shao Lin” monastery.
These were some of the most exhilarating experiences and scenic memories of my life.

What makes you unique and different from the other contestants?

I place great importance on focusing on the best in all situations, and trying to maintain a positive energy.
It can be one of the most difficult things to achieve because we do not have control over the occurrences in our lives; however we have control over the energy we give out to the universe, which is why I choose to stay positive.

What is your philosophy of/in life?

“Even a fool knows you can’t touch the stars, but that doesn’t stop a Wiseman from trying”
It’s so important to try, even if things seem impossible at time.
I don’t want to have any regrets in my lifetime, wishing I could have or would have done things differently, that is why I try to keep focused on things that are important to me, conventional or not.

What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?

It’s difficult for me to map out my future a year ahead, let alone ten.
My only wish is to stay happy and positive and to keep the people I love close by.

I would want to build a family, and have my career and ambitions stabilized and accomplished in ten years.
More importantly I would want to feel no regrets based on decisions that I have made in my life, to achieve my goals and gain the experiences and knowledge I aspire to have.

Is there anything you would like to tell us about yourself? Something unique that has happened to you? Some interesting thing about you?

Five years ago, my mother had undergone a stroke. This incident forced a change on my outlook on life as well as help me gain a greater appreciation for the people in my life.
Luckily, my mother fully recovered but seeing the change in her lifestyle and her lust for life, facilitated an appreciation for mine.
The hardworking, stressed woman I once knew suddenly started to take up weekly salsa lessons, and take up hobbies that made her happy. This change in my mother’s spirit is a constant reminder to never take life for granted.