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FeedBeauty plus brains
Grad vies for Miss Universe title
FACE THE WORLD: Mezenina hopes to become a diplomat after university
REPORT CARD
STUDENT Ksenia Mezenina
GRADUATED William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate, 2007
BEST SUBJECT English
WORST SUBJECT Math
CURRENT JOB Model
THE TERM "BEAUTY QUEEN" conjures up certain connotations, and not all of them are good.
A video posted online in 2007 shows a contestant answering a question about why many Americans can't find the U.S. on a world map. She starts off redundantly (“I personally believe”), blames problem on the lack of maps and wraps up with, “Our education, such as South Africa....” If ever beauty queens were suspected of being dim, here was proof. To date, the video has been viewed 34 million times on YouTube.
Such things do not help the cause of people like North York’s Ksenia Mezenina, an intelligent and well-spoken young woman who is among the final 12 contenders in Ontario and among 60 across Canada vying to become Miss Universe Canada 2009. The winner will represent the country at Donald Trump’s Miss Universe competition.
“It’s kind of a cliché,” she says of the public perception of beauty contests. “[But] it’s the 21st century. It’s not another beautiful girl with no brains. If you read the [contestants’] bios, they have accomplished a lot.” she says.
This will be Mezenina’s first pageant, and she is thrilled.
She is in her second year at York University, pursuing international studies. She hopes to one day become a diplomat.
“I lead my life in a way that I try to make it beneficial for everyone when making decisions,” she says.
Mezenina and the other top 12 contestants organized a fundraising event for SOS Children’s Villages and the American Nicaragua Foundation, organizations that help children in underdeveloped countries.
At William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate, she put together high school concerts and performances. But she wasn’t always so comfortable around school. When Mezenina’s family immigrated to Canada from Russia, she found it difficult to make friends since she didn’t speak English. With time, though, she was able to adapt.
One of her favourite teachers at William Lyon Mackenzie was her English teacher, Ms. Gordon.
“She’s an amazing teacher, always really helpful. I felt like she was talking to you like you were on the same level,” Mezenina says.
For the moment, Mezenina’s focus is on the competition. “Of course everyone wants to win, but I have to be realistic.” And in doing so, maybe she is helping to reverse some of those beauty queen stigmas, too.
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