Entry #1 - Why I am the way I am

I am a tall woman. Now, I wouldn’t necessarily claim that my height defines me, but it has been a major influence throughout my life.

As a child I knew I was going to be a leader, so being tall became my greatest asset. I was competitive in every aspect, and being tall gave me an advantage in sports, and in my independence. I was able to reach the highest shelves on my own, and was able to pick up basketballs with one hand. My age was never questioned because by the age of 13 I was already almost 6 feet tall.  My height allowed me to have conversation with adults while they looked up to me. It gave me a lot of confidence but there were some struggles.

Being long and lean I found there were certain expectations of me set by society. The first one being I should play basketball or volleyball. I did for a brief period of time but was easily bored with the lack of challenges. I decided I would engage in sports that weren’t typically designed for my body type. I was a gymnast for eight years, and played rugby for three. I certainly stood out playing these sports but I felt no need to hide.

That was another factor I noticed, that I was suppose to “hide”, or try to “blend” in with society but I couldn’t. I was deemed unattractive by males as I towered next to them, so I had to discover alternative ways to be more approachable and less intimidating. I used humour as my tool to build myself and reputation, which made me realize not to take words and what people say to seriously. I also realized the power of words and perspective. This helped when I started modelling as I already had thick skin and wasn’t bothered by what other people said.

A model with a sense of humour seemed to be refreshing in the industry. I was told by several professionals it would keep me grounded and it did. Modelling taught me to be kind, and to be a positive role model because you never know who is observing and learning from you. I found modelling to be empowering and offered my knowledge to other girls to help them realize their potential.  As a model I was seen but not heard, that’s why I chose to go into Public Relations and regain my voice.

I’m constantly searching to satisfy my sense of accomplishment. The harder the challenge, the greater the sense of achievement I receive. This also comes from my belief in astrology and karma. I’m not religious in any way so I decided I would believe in myself instead of a higher being. I noticed that many of my theories and personal traits resembled those of my astrological chart. As an Aries it explained my competitive nature and need for leadership. I explored deeper into astrology I found myself using it as a guide to evaluate myself and aid in understanding others. It has opened my eyes and has changed the way I communicate.

I feel as though these are important factors that have helped shape me into the proud person I am today.