Miss Universe Canada 2012 Venessa Facciotti

Venessa Facciotti | Miss Universe Canada 2012

Age: 26

Height: 5'6"

Hometown: Langley

BIO: Venessa truly has a passion for helping other people and a love for her community.

She not only coaches elementary school kids basketball but mentors young women in the community who suffer with depression, teaching them values and skills to overcome their depression without the use of medication.

After a high school friend of hers lost their life due to the disease, Venessa has committed herself to being a positive advocate for depression and is fighting hard to educate people in her community that depression is not a personal choice, but is actually a serious illness.

She is also currently writing a motivational book to further help people who suffer with this, in attempts to inspire them through her own life story.

Venessa also has a sense for adventure and a love for adrenaline sports! She is always the first to try something new and is constantly pushing her own personal boundaries.

She has even done a photo shoot while bungee jumping to help raise money for the Canadian cancer society and plans to go skydiving soon!

Venessa’s biggest passion comes from modeling, but she tries to focus her career on “modeling for a cause”, a term she came up with to help represent projects where she not only gets to represent beauty, but which also give her a voice to spread light and awareness regarding important community causes. Venessa believes her biggest asset is her voice and she is constantly using that tool to not only improve her own life, but to help improve the lives of people around her.

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 sports and kids, so I naturally took to coaching basketball, which I highly enjoy. I also have a huge heart for animals so I enjoy browsing the pet store and taking my dogs to the dog park

In what sports, if any, have you participated?

Basketball/snowboard racing/wakeboarding/soccer/vollyball

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

Myself. I think that, too often, we aspire to be like others and forget to be influenced by the most important person, ourselves.

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

Starting my own business

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

I would love to open a depression resource centre where I could implement my own therapy programs. I currently hold events inspired by this concept out of my home, as well, mentor women in my community who suffer with depression.

What would be your “dream job” in life?

To be able to continue and grow in my current position, I am so lucky that Ive already found my dream job.

Are you currently employed?

Yes

If yes, what is your occupation?

Owner/entrepenuer

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

I still live in my childhood town but I had a very unique childhood! At 4 years old my brother had a dream of becoming a professional moto-x-er and my family supported him emmensely, so we spent most of my childhood traveling in our motorhome across the country(and even the continent) to go to all of these different races.

List any volunteering you have done.

Volunteer basketball coach/spca dog walker/organize coat drives for the womens shelter/donate yearly to the local food banks/hosting fundraisers for the BC Cancer Agency/adopt a family Christmas

What is your most unusual talent?

I can draw graffiti

Where is the most interesting place you have been?

Ive always been a city girl, so it was very interesting to visit rural Manitoba for a family wedding. The skyline no longer had mountains or buildings in it, only blue sky and fields, the scenery was absolutely beautiful!