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 Photo: Franco Rossi |
She stepped off the plane to a flurry of flashbulbs.
Miss Universe Canada, 18-year-old Venessa Fisher from Waterdown, Ont., was the first of 81 Miss Universe delegates to arrive in Quito, Ecuador, last week.
An entourage of international press greeted her before she was swept away by the Canadian ambassador and his delegation of VIPs.
Since the Grade 12 student and competitive dancer was crowned Miss Universe Canada in January, she has spent the last four months fine-tuning her looks, wardrobe and skills to take on the poised beauty queen persona one would expect of Miss Universe.
From her arrival in Quito to the final competition on June 1 -- where you'll see her live on NBC -- she will have attended 22 official events (dinners, fundraisers and visits to local schools), shot a pageant video, had lunch with local dignitaries and rehearsed umpteen times.
She'll also have dressed in 60 different outfits, fixed her own hair and makeup and walked way too many kilometres in 20 different pairs of sexy 4-inch heels. Flats are not an option for aspiring beauty queens.
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FISHER'S DREAM TEAM
Since winning Miss Universe Canada in January, Fisher worked with a "dream team" of experts to prep her for the big event.
"She must always be on," says Denis Davila, president of Beauties of Canada and the National Director of Miss Universe Canada in this Sun exclusive. "When you are up against 80 other beautiful girls, your personality, presentation and wardrobe must set you apart."
Davila has left nothing to chance.
Her grooming started with two personal trainers. Though she hasn't an ounce of fat on her frame, Fisher says she was on a junk-free diet: "No late night McDonalds or pizza unfortunately."
BEAUTY ROUTINE
 Photo: Franco Rossi |
Robin Barker Welspa, on Yorkville Ave., was beauty central for Fisher. Here "Great Lengths" hair extensions were applied by Cindy LeBlanc from her crown all the way around to give Fisher's own baby- fine hair added volume.
Robin Barker, Miss Universe Canada's official hairstylist, gave Fisher a long, layered cut and taught her a variety of ways to style her hair, including flat iron, pin curls and updos while she's on the road.
Esthetician Julie Royal prescribed a skin routine from her own line of Royalspa products to help Fisher maintain her healthy glow during this time of high stress and large quantities of daily makeup. Her routine included NeutraThera aromatherapy oil for night-time and Mask Urgence to help with breakouts.
Royal also applied Calgel organic nail-enhancing compound that created a permanent French manicure look.
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Photo: Franco Rossi |
BORN TO PERFORM
She follows in the footsteps of her mother, Linda Collins, a dance instructor who named her daughter after ballerina Venessa Harwood. Fisher has competitively danced her way across Canada, the U.S. and overseas, bringing home "too many trophies and ribbons to count." And since she trained on a steady diet of ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and modern dance -- it's unlikely she'll be falling off her stilettos any time soon.
"My mom taught me to walk in heels when I was 8 years old," says the 5-foot-8, porcelaine-skinned beauty who, for all those wondering, does have a boyfriend. "He's working full time and I'm always running around now, but we respect that about each other. Fortunately, we are both ambitious."
Fisher says dance is definitely in her future but she's also pursuing a broadcasting career. One of her perks since winning Miss Universe Canada was landing a job as a TV news reporter on teen issues.
"I try to encourage children to dream big and reach high for their goals. It is possible." She uses herself as the best example to inspire them.
Fisher expects the most thrilling part of the Miss Universe competition to be the final night. "Just being on stage at such a large event -- and who knows how many people might be watching me at home. That's exciting."
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She hasn't an ounce of stage fright. "I have been a competitor all my life. I know all about stage presence."
Her biggest fear has nothing to do with heel heights. "I think the language barrier between me and the other contestants will be a big challenge."
PICTURE PERFECT
Makeup artist Robert Closs of The School of Professional Makeup showed Fisher several beauty tricks. "She now knows five looks she can do herself," says Closs, a 20-year industry veteran. "A natural day look, a natural glamour look, and two or three stage looks that range from the traditional sexy-smoky eye and pale lips, to a dewy/glossy pastel look, to a powerful runway diva look with false eyelashes and a bold mouth."
THE TALK AND THE WALK
Miguel Martinez teaches Fisher her runway walks. Swimsuits for the competition are from the XOXO collection of Christina Swimwear. (Craig Robertson/SUN) |
Interview coach Jimmy Steele taught her how to handle the media and answer those tough pageant questions.
Her fashion stylist and runway coach, Miguel Martinez, says how she looks and moves in the clothes is paramount. "On the runway, Vanessa has to know how to work a thigh-high slit in a dress and how to kick the tail of a gown with a train when she's turning," says Martinez. "You also have to consider how the dress moves -- chiffon must float, not billow. And we have to make sure that the colours she wears work with the stage lighting and the set design."
Martinez says Fisher's formal dance training has given her an edge over other girls in the poise, grace and stage presence categories. He's worked with her on three important cat walks: