Life pitched Michelle Saine curveballs from the first inning.

Her grandparents adopted her at birth. They cared for her until she was six when their health failed and she was placed in care of her biological father. He suffered from bipolar disorder, and she and her brothers moved multiple times.

Without the continuity of a stable home, Saine struggled with forming long-term relationships and a strong sense of family and security.

Saine promised herself if she were to ever marry, she乌鸦传媒檇 provide a loving, secure home.

乌鸦传媒淢y dad 乌鸦传媒� was a really good person, but he struggled乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮�媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淗e did the best he could, for sure, but it made me who I am and it made me strong and it made me want to have a different life.乌鸦传媒�

Saine, now 54, has been married 29 years 乌鸦传媒� she met her husband 35 years ago on the day she arrived in Nanaimo 乌鸦传媒� and has three grown children and has had a 25-year career with the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction and is Nanaimo乌鸦传媒檚 Mrs. category contestant in this year乌鸦传媒檚 Miss B.C. pageant.

In her work, Saine faces societal issues. Social housing and working with young people are are important to her and she plans to complete her degree in social work. She乌鸦传媒檚 also trained in suicide prevention and credits much of her success to the positive influences from people who appeared at critical times in her life, including her grandparents and her stepmother Liz Reddick.

乌鸦传媒淢y dad was with a woman who was a saint,乌鸦传媒� Saine said. 乌鸦传媒淪he took us on 乌鸦传媒� myself and my two brothers 乌鸦传媒� and she was an amazing role model for us and I miss her a lot 乌鸦传媒� she made a total difference 乌鸦传媒� at pivotal moments, at the beginning when you乌鸦传媒檙e a teenager. There were really positive people in my life that guided where I was going.乌鸦传媒�

Those influences will also guide Saine乌鸦传媒檚 future.

乌鸦传媒淲hat I乌鸦传媒檓 hoping to do when I grow up is work with families 乌鸦传媒� work with children, integrating families that are struggling, working with children and parents and keeping families together,乌鸦传媒� she said.

The pageant happens in Fort Langley on Monday, July 2, but in the days leading up to it, contestants participate in workshops on public speaking, interviewing, etiquette and manners, self-defence, personal expression, self-esteem awareness, modelling choreography, on-stage presence, lifestyle and leadership. With a lifelong interest in education and personal development, the pageant is up Saine乌鸦传媒檚 alley.

乌鸦传媒淲hen I was 17 I lived in Calgary and I was at a mall and they were asking for contestants for Miss Teen Calgary,乌鸦传媒� Saine said.

A friend of her乌鸦传媒檚 had competed in a local pageant and loved the experience. Saine, being shy, wondered if she could do it too.

乌鸦传媒淚 was in the second or third from the table to sign up and I jammed, I just couldn乌鸦传媒檛 do it. I thought, no way, so here I am, years later and I thought, you know, this might be a really good thing to do. Face your fears,乌鸦传媒� she said.

This time around she has support from her family and her friend and sponsor Sybil Worthington, owner of Xcessoreyes Cosmetic.

乌鸦传媒淭o me I look at she乌鸦传媒檚 representing everybody,乌鸦传媒� Worthington said. 乌鸦传媒淪he乌鸦传媒檚 a wonderful representation of a female 乌鸦传媒� she乌鸦传媒檚 just a beautiful person inside and out.乌鸦传媒�

Saine admitted she乌鸦传媒檚 as terrified facing the prospect of walking across a stage in high heels and speaking publicly as she was when she was 17, but pushing through the fear is part of her message.

乌鸦传媒淒on乌鸦传媒檛 be afraid of who you are. Don乌鸦传媒檛 be afraid of who you think you are. Don乌鸦传媒檛 be afraid of what people think of you. It乌鸦传媒檚 how you feel about yourself and having the courage to stand up and do something that scares you, that you乌鸦传媒檙e afraid to do and do it anyway,乌鸦传媒� Saine said.

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