My name is Monica Vadete I'm 29 years of age and I'm luso-Canadian. Although I was born in Portugal at the age of nine my family and I moved to Canada. Adapting to my surroundings was a bit of a challenge, by this I mean I had so much freedom friends and traditions that I was leaving behind, so deep Inside I kept a window open in my heart with hopes of one day returning back home. From then on I decided to make each day a new adventure. It wasn't easy, but looking back now I would not be standing here today if I hadn't taken a couple of negative experiences and turned them into positive ones. Getting in touch with my artistic side helped me though a lot in life such as my moms cancer diagnosis, it aided me with my social anxiety and integrated me into a community, overall it helped me to get to know myself better. I was 10 years of age when I had my first encounter with the arts, which was my first pageant "mini miss Portuguese". Once I was bitten by the bug of fashion and arts I wanted more. I participated in two more pageants, stared in a school theatre production as Dorothy of the wizard of oz, was discovered by Anita Norris modeling agency that took me to a competition in Toronto called the CMTC (Canadian modeling and talent convention). I felt I needed to challenge myself further so I did some soul searching which lead me home, back to my roots Portugal, where I graduated from university majoring in theatre and education. Negative experiences, such as moving to Canada, adapting to new surroundings, my moms disease that still accompanies us everyday, all these things that could have broken me, taught me to fight, to dream and to never give up, allowing me to have this rich journey that is my life.

At this moment I am a professional actress and a entrepreneur for my father's marble business seixo mármore. My dream is to never stop dreaming because dreams are the fuel that helps me accomplish my goals in life. If that little girl at the age of nine didn't dream of bigger things in life i would not be standing where I am today, because you either "go big or go home". I will never stop pressuring what I love most, acting, modeling being an entrepreneur and I try never to let any what if's behind. 

In the first place I am so thankful and honoured to be in this competition, I have been waiting for an opportunity like this all my life and am so blessed that I am here today representing my country Portugal. I am facing this amazing experience with a positive energy and confidence, believing in my self and the ability to succeed. Succeeding doesn’t only mean winning, because win or loose I will come out richer from this new chapter that has opened up.

I hope to inspire, to be an example. To win the tittle involves bravery because you can’t only think about yourself but the people that surround you. I want to use my voice and reassure those who think that the possible is impossible is completely wrong, know that with hope, strength and dedication there is nothing you can’t Conquer.  I know that this may  sound like a cliche but I really believe this to be true. 

The advice I give to the other competitors is that we are not alone, we can count on each other to learn from one another. We all have a story that makes us who we are today and we should be proud of it, when united we became stronger. Like my mom always says “Never leave any what if’s behind”, one day you might come to regret it. 

“Carpe diem” seize the day. 

With the support of my family and friends I am prepared to come in to this competition with an opened mind (for there is much to be learned). I am going to face this like I always do with any challenge that comes my way, with my head held high knowing that I gave it my all. But than how does one really prepare themselves for something this big and wonderful? We just have to have faith in ourselves and most of all have fun. 

I will climb the highest mountains, swim the deepest oceans, never giving up because I always believed that at the end of each road there is beckoning candle burning bright leading me on the right path in my life. I don’t want to just to good by me, I want to do good by others. All the tears that are being shed now I want to see those eyes shine with laughter. I want to be present, I want to be the one bringing joy to the people, and through the arts anything is possible even breaking down the toughest of walls. I hope to continue on having various acting projects in order to make this happen. Life in general isn’t easy. Unfortunately or fortunately there was a point in time when it was hard for my parents to make ends meet. We were fortunate enough to have kind hearted people who out of the goodness of their hearts helped us through our hardships. I guess you don’t fully understand how difficult life can be until you walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. I have walked that mile and for that reason I want to give back all that I can for those who most need it, be it through volunteering, acting or raising awareness through foundations. Planing projects for the future is easy, achieving them is the difficult parte but nothing like dedication and hard work to accomplish such fulfilling task.

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