Marta Jablonska - Miss Universe Canada 2012 Profile

Marta Jablonska | Miss Universe Canada 2012

Age: 24

Height: 5'10"

Hometown: Hamilton

BIO: Always on the quest for new adventures, Marta Jablonska is a passionate young woman whose self-confidence and curious nature lead her to live life to the fullest and never say no to an opportunity.

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Marta came to Canada at the age of 6. Not understanding a word of English and having to learn the language quickly was the first challenge that inspired Marta to cultivate a profound interest for different cultures and languages.

Marta is now fluent in Polish, English & French and is learning Spanish.

After secondary school, Marta moved to Montreal to attend McGill University. This allowed Marta to explore more of Canada’s cultural diversity and immerse herself in the francophone setting.

Gifted with a creative, energetic and charismatic personality, Marta was also chosen to teach an undergraduate course as part of a special program at McGill.

Determined to keep expanding her horizons and to discover more of what the world has to offer, Marta recently embarked on a journey around the world, visiting New Zealand, Thailand, South Korea, Beijing, Barbados and various parts of North America over the past year. Nothing makes Marta happier than learning about new customs, foods and landmarks, while mixing with locals and exploring nature’s beauty.

Traveling has also exposed Marta to poverty and hardships in under-developed parts of the world. As a first-hand witness while volunteering in Argentina, Marta realizes the importance of a good support system for children. Being inspired by “Club Union de los Pibes,” an after-school program for children with difficult home lives, Marta is in the process of starting her own Sunny Sundays Project for Canadian children with similar situations. She is excited about spearheading the first annual Dine & Dance for SOS fundraising gala this year as well. Marta’s caring nature and exceptional entrepreneurial aptitude are qualities that will not only drive these projects to completion but set them up for success in the future.

Being ambitious, Marta does not only aspire to have a fulfilling personal life but excels in the professional and academic setting as well. She is currently working in Marketing while completing her MBA part-time. As a fervent believer in education, Marta’s future plan is to complete a PhD and become a Professor. Finally, she is looking to find ways to help others transform their lives for the better and is a Certified Holistic Health Counsellor from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.

Marta loves to laugh, be in the sun and do anything active outdoors. She also loves going to the movies, rock climbing, exploring extreme sports and playing word games with her friends. Her mantra for life includes “Do the unexpected,” and “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage,” which will continue to guide her as she embarks on her next adventure to become Miss Universe Canada. If Marta is selected to represent her country, she will do so with pride and grace, in the same way she approaches every aspect of her life- by giving the opportunity 110%.

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

Polish, French (beginner Spanish)

What are your interests and what do you enjoy doing the most?

I love being in the sun, doing anything active outdoors and making every day an adventure. I also enjoy playing word games with friends, going to the movies, laughing and dancing. I love extreme sports, learning about other cultures, exploring new parts of the world and meeting people from all walks of life.

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

Dance- 7 years of jazz & ballet as a child
Tom Todoroff Acting Workshop participant
Played piano for many years growing up
Lead singer in Polish Youth Choir- “Usmiech”
Musical Theatre in high school:
Sandy in Grease, Velma in All that Jazz
Musical Theatre in University- performed ‘Little Town’ from Beauty and the Beach at Miss Polonia Montreal in Polish, English & French
FORD Toronto- model during high school (David Dixon Fashion Show, TV commercial for Model & Talent Search Canada, many catalogue photoshoots for Sears, the Bay, etc.)

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

I played Volleyball and Basketball during elementary school and the beginning of high school. I have taken tennis lessons and participated in cross-country meets. I also received an international Sailing license as a teenager in Poland. I currently run, rock climb, participate in a fitness bootcamp, surf and swim.

Name one person, other than your parents, who has had the most influence on your life. Why?

The person who has single-handedly had the most influence on my life is somewhat of a fairy godmother- my mentor and university sponsor. When I was in high school, I was the president of my student council. As the student voice, I sat in at board meetings for Cathedral Student Enterprises, where I first met my mentor. As a successful businessman and entrepreneur, he was well aware of my dreams of going to McGill, an internationally recognized institution, and studying commerce in a place where I could practice my French. At the time, however, my dream was out of reach. I was not in a financial position to afford attending school out-of-province, not to mention the costs of living in Montreal. Although it was an anonymous sponsorship that eventually financed my 4 years of undergraduate education, I believe it was the now-87 year old mentor who changed my life. Each year, several times a year, my sponsor has also arranged for a group of key individuals from the school board and business worlds to come together to review my goals, plans, successes thus far and aspirations. They have provided me with unparalleled support and guidance over the past 6 years. I will forever be indebted to this group, who not only changed my life professionally and academically, but personally as well as I have been fortunate enough to receive critical life advice from them. The unparalleled act of kindness and selfless generosity renewed my faith in the good in people. I cannot explain in words the gratitude I feel for the surreal shift that was created in my world, nor can I fully explain the ripple effect that it has had on the rest of my life. Nonetheless, I will forever feel humbled and blessed because of the influence my sponsor has had on me. Furthermore, I have committed to someday provide a deserving student from my inner-city high school with the same privilege I was awarded; a first step towards creating a scholarship fund in my sponsor’s honour. My mentor continues to support my every endeavour to this day and is very excited about my participation in Miss Universe Canada.

What is your proudest personal accomplishment (other than participating in this pageant)?

My proudest personal accomplishment has been creating my own path in life. Whether adapting to a new country where I first did not speak either official language, or moving to another province for school, or traveling around the world on my own, I continuously strive to not let my own fear and perceived shortcomings stop me from living the life I was meant to live. All the while, I have succeeded in keeping my personal values intact such as being respectful and kind to everyone I meet. I am proud that I have done one thing each day that scares me.

What is the most interesting or unique thing that has ever happened to you and/or what is the most interesting thing about you?

3 things come to mind:

On my last big trip, I managed to just miss the earthquakes in New Zealand, flooding in southern Thailand and radioactive rain in South Korea…. all by just a couple of days. Someone was clearly watching over me.
I’m fearless enough to ride an elephant in Thailand, run off a cliff in New Zealand or jump out of a plane in Quebec…. and somehow driving a go kart on my own intimidates me.
I strive to be an eternal optimist, never back down from an opportunity and continue to dream the way I did as a child- ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

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

No matter what my future may bring, I aspire to share my passion for public speaking and fervent belief in education. I am currently working towards my MBA part-time, and intend to complete a PhD program to become a Professor. All the while, I will continue to build my Health & Wellness business and teach others to be fearless and improve their own lives via one-on-one coaching and group seminars.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

My dream job would include traveling the world and public speaking in some capacity, while inspiring a positive change in others’ lives, no matter how small.

Are you currently a student?

Yes (part-time while working full-time)

If yes, where?

York University, Schulich School of Business

Area of study:

MBA (Masters in Business, likely to specialize in Marketing or Health Management)

Are you currently employed?

Yes

If yes, what is your occupation?

Marketing Category Specialist at Suncor Energy

Describe where you were raised and what your childhood was like.

I was born in Poland’s capital- Warsaw, however, lived in south-western Poland near the mountains for the first 6 years of my life. I then immigrated to Canada with my parents, and spent the remainder of my childhood in Hamilton. I was a very curious child, who was once very shy. I spent most of my childhood surrounded by music, as most of my family had been involved with the performing arts. I had a challenging time adjusting to my new country initially, as I did not speak a word of the language. Once I learned, my parents decided to throw another challenge my way and placed me in a French Immersion program where I once more didn’t speak a word of the language. Although at the time, I struggled with these hurdles, I am grateful to them for consistently pushing me outside of my comfort zone, even during childhood, as it had a significant impact on who I am today.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

The most unusual job I have had was my first job at a Petro-Canada Gas Station, selling lottery tickets, cigarettes and gasoline- although I drive a car, I have never gambled or smoked, making it an unusual job for a teenager. I also worked in Quality Assurance at a telemarketing company (when someone calls and says ‘this call may be recorded for quality purposes…,’ I was listening)

List any volunteering you have done:

SOS Children’s Villages- Dine & Dance for SOS, Committee Chair
United Way 2011: Days of Caring Mobile Food Bank, Volunteer
United Way 2011: Waffles for the Way at Suncor Energy, Event Lead
United Way 2011: Corporate CN Tower Climb, Fundraiser
Alternatives Montreal: International development and human rights
French to English translator Aug. 2010- Feb. 2011
Club Union de los Pibes: Volunteer with GIC Argentina Jul. 2010
After-school program for underprivileged children in Buenos Aires
McGill Polish Students’ Association - VP Events
CASCO Committee: Montreal Children’s Hospital Fashion Show
Recruitment Coordinator Sept. 2007 – Nov. 2009
McGill Management Cancer Auction Committee
Sponsorship Coordinator Apr. 2007 – Jan. 2008

• Singlehandedly secured American Apparel & several boutique shops as sponsors

Heart & Stroke Foundation- Youth Committee Member
CHS Student Council (Hamilton, ON) -- President

• Organized various fundraising events targeted at helping less fortunate students who lived in the inner-city areas (delegated & oversaw actions of 12 council members)

What is your most unusual talent?

My most unusual talent is counting to 3 with my tongue, or rapping the entire Sir-Mix-A-Lot song “I like big butts.” Also, in high school, I was on the step squad, and can still remember some of our stepping routines!

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

I have a very difficult time selecting one most interesting place as everywhere I’ve had the opportunity to visit had something incredibly interesting to offer, but if I had to narrow it down to a few, I would choose:

New Zealand- both islands are straight out of a fairytale. I cannot imagine a more breathtaking collection of natural wonders, in pristine condition. To top things off, Kiwis were some of the kindest and most active people I have ever met. Not to mention the food… and extreme sports… and countless adventures that NZ has to offer.
Barbados- having a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore the island with locals exposed me to a beautiful and peaceful place. With the entire country housing half the number of inhabitants of my hometown, Bajans have a distinctly unique culture.
Argentina- the passion of the people of Buenos Aires is inimitable.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

Ten years from now, I’ll be 34. At that point, I hope I am in some way sharing my life with someone- be it a partner, or child or perhaps my family and friends. I hope to have flexibility- in terms of time and resources- to continue to life freely and do what feels right to me alone. I hope to have my PhD, own my own business or be involved in showbiz in some way. I hope many of the philanthropic projects I am currently setting the groundwork for continue to thrive in ten years. I hope in ten years I have made some small contribution to better our world, while being healthy and happy.

Is there anything you would like to add that we haven’t asked?

Fun Facts-->

I’m a sucker for inspirational quotes.
I found one of my favourite quotes- “do the unexpected” in a Skittles bag
I have determined my priorities in life include:
Exploring the world
Connecting with others
I recently began a bucket list.
I love desserts…. even though I shouldn’t eat them.
I have been skydiving, hang gliding and bungee jumping.
My most valuable possessions are my pictures as they are the keys to my memories.
I love pickled mushrooms.
I am the only woman I know who hates shopping.
My favourite colour is dark grey metallic.

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* Special Thanks to Beauties of Canada