Vaughan Marr - Miss Universe Canada 2012 Profile

Vaughan Marr | Miss Universe Canada 2012

Age: 23

Height: 5'9"

Hometown: Cremona

BIO: Vaughan is currently completing her last year of studies for her Bsc in Nursing degree, with a focused practicum in the Operating Room.

In addition to her schooling, Vaughan is also employed as a nurse in the Emergency Room at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

She enjoys the satisfaction accompanied with being able to help and care for those who are ill. It is her desire to one day follow in her older brother’s footsteps and become a medical doctor.

Vaughan is passionate about empowering women. She is involved with an organization called EVOLVE Spa, a charity designed to help homeless women in Alberta.

Despite all life’s demands, Vaughan still loves to visit her home where she grew up on a bison ranch.

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

English

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

I love the great outdoors and anything that allows me to enjoy nature. Some of my greatest times have been from camping. I enjoy sitting around a campfire, setting up tents, hiking, horseback riding, and I especially enjoy rafting. In the summer, I spend any extra time I have to go bike riding or rollerblading.

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

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Training [ACLS].

I am a certified Nail Technician qualified by Pro Nail Systems to do gel and acrylic nail application.

I have had music lessons for the Alto Saxophone, and I have also had a vocal training. My mother use to be a dance teacher, and from this I was taught in Jazz, tap, ballet, and baton during my younger years.

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

I enjoy sports and have always been one to jump at an opportunity to play whether I have experience playing the sport or not. I have been on sports teams including Basketball, Volleyball, and track and field. Recently I have been exploring the game of golf, I find this to be a good challenge in the summer months. One sport I have not yet had much opportunity to explore is tennis; I hope to be able to enjoy the game of tennis one day soon!

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

There are many people who have had great influences on my life, to answer this question I will have to reflect on two people instead of one. Growing up I had four older brothers contributing to a greater amount of male influences in my life. However, when I was 7 years old I met two amazing friends by the names of Martha and DInora. Martha and Dinora were sisters and were both older than me. At a young age both had come to Canada with their mother and brother from Nicaragua. These two sisters were strong feminine influences in my life and were able to teach me about the beauty of being a woman. They showed me things about hair and makeup, high heels and city fashion. As role models, they held high values and strong morals, demonstrating the importance of family, love, and loyalty. Martha and Dinora became my first experience of what it was like to have sisters.

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

My proudest accomplishment is a product of education. Growing up I was always interested in the health care profession. I chased after this desire and was accepted into the Bachelorette of Science in Nursing program. For four years I dedicated myself to my studies and have finished every year on the Dean’s honour roll list. I consider this a great accomplishment and feel the satisfaction of positive results after putting in such hard work.

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

Growing up, I had seen first had the true meaning of generosity. Due to the fact our family owned a buffalo farm, I constantly witnessed my parents helping people in need, by supplying bison. In particular, my parents were active with various native aboriginal groups. Recognizing the value bison had to many tribes, my parents would give bison meat to aboriginal peoples. I also got to be part of a reconciliation meeting as our family supplied bison meat to elders of the Blackfoot Tribe. I consider it an honour and privilege to be part of something so important, unique, and memorable.

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

My career ambition is to one day follow in my older brother’s footsteps and become a medical doctor. This is going to be a long journey and one that requires hard work and dedication. For me, I considered nursing to be the most helpful undergraduate degree to prepare me for becoming a medical doctor. I will be enrolling in extra science courses needed for medical school and I will be studying to write the Medical College Admission Test [MCAT].

What would be your “dream job” in life?

If I could choose any job in the world, I would dream of being a Doctor working for the World Health Organization; dealing with health issues on an international level. I would like to advocate for health promotion and engage in partnerships were joint action is needed.

Are you currently a student?

Yes, until the middle of April when I graduate.

If yes, where?

University of Alberta/ Red Deer College

Area of study:

Bsc Nursing

Are you currently employed?

Yes

If yes, what is your occupation?

I am currently employed as a nurse in the Emergency Department at the Red Deer Regional Hospital.

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

I was blessed with a very wonderful upbringing. I grew up on a bison farm and on a piece of land that had a river running though it. My childhood was full of adventure. With my four older brothers, I often found myself in enjoying activities on the farm including: swimming in the river in the summer, having mud fights, building forts, and in the winter we would be found making snowmen, starting snowball fights, and ice skating. My parents were both very loving and caring. They taught us the importance of loving others and doing kind things for one another. They demonstrated a healthy work ethic and showed us the importance of finding balance between life’s demands.

List any interesting or unusual jobs you may have had.

The most unusual job I have had was when I was trained and hired to drive a small CAT (very similar to a BobCat). I helped to move fencing and pull out posts while driving the machinery.

List any volunteering you have done.

I am very passionate about women empowerment. With this realization I have become strongly involved with an organization dedicated to helping homeless women. The charity is called EVOLVE SPA. The organization reaches out by providing services such as hair cutting and styling, facials, pedicures, manicures, facial waxing, and massages to those in need. These services are given by caring hands and helps to restore a sense of dignity and femininity to women who have been surviving with very little. You can learn more about the organization by visiting http://www.evolvespa.ca/

What is your most unusual talent?

As unusual as it is, I can fold my eyelids inside out

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

Even though I have had the privilege to do some travelling to Hawaii and Mexico, the place I still find I hold the most value in, is Canada’s own Waterton National Park. I find the majesty of the mountains to be enticing, and the glacier lakes to be inspiring. The beauty of Waterton is almost unimaginable. The national park also has many activities to partake in and sights to behold such as hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping and much more. I also associate Waterton Park with many happy childhood memories, making the park even more valuable to me. Canada is an incredible country and it harbors some of the most unique and beautiful sights.

What do you hope to be doing in ten years?

In ten years I hope to have finished medical school and be using my skills and knowledge to help people not only in Canada, but those in places of the world where health care access is limited. In those ten years I would hope to have built on and made new friendships, to have learned more about myself, who I am, and what’s important to me. But, I also hope that I am surprised by where I am and what I am doing; leaving some things open to the unknown and room for adventure.

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