Looking back it has been an incredible experience. I have experienced so many firsts including first photoshoot, TV interview, press conference, and so it will be the first time I have been a major event production: the MCVP finals + Canadian Cancer society charity gala. It has been equally exhilarating to work with different staff of FTV, seeing the their incredible work ethic makes me want to work harder to put on a great performance. Thank you FTV for giving me this opportunity to learn and to develop myself into a more well-rounded and worldly person. I am so grateful for the chance to meet and build a lasting friendship with 9 girls that each have their unique personalities and talents. I can't express my eternal graditude for my family and friends' support, you have been my army and my strength. Last but definitely not least, Thank God! I have learned so much about myself and I have never been so inspired.

今天，我6歲的弟弟Alex來電，問我甚麼時候回家。我跟他說：姊姊在努力追求自己的夢想，而且很快就能見到他。我們的親情很特殊，因為我看著他出世。自從那天我將他抱緊我懷抱起，我們就沒有分開過。

幾個月前，我剛離開Edmonton時候並沒帶很多行李，只帶了一張我和Alex的合照：他上學的第一天。當時我擔心他會不會適應學校的環境，所以我留在學校，一邊幫助老師，一邊看守著弟弟。對我來說，這張照片非常珍貴，它代表著一個重要的成長過程。現在，我努力勤奮練習做好一位MCVP，為了參選當晚能夠和Alex一起見證與分享我生命中最快樂的時刻。

How can you not fall in love with Alex?

在地球的另一邊，我還有一位珍貴的小妹妹。在世界宣明會的一個籌款之夜，我看到Sreymey的感人故事，令我印象深刻。她和妹妹，單身媽媽一起住，卻負擔不起基本的需要，例如學費等等。過去的一年，我一直在資助她，她已經回到學校了。她希望能夠成為一名會計師。能夠給她人生多些機會，同時也是我一個祝福！

我愛小朋友，所以經常在小學裡義務。作為study buddy, 我可以幫到老師和學生，細心地照顧有需要的學生們。

我還有其他關於humanitarian organization的義務工作，例如Make poverty history, Amnesty International, Youth Emergency Shelter, World Vision, 並且擔任Hope for the World的President. I believe that we have a social responsibility to do as much good in this world as we can. That is the main reason I am studying to become a Registered Nurse because I want to dedicate my life to improving the lives of people around me everyday.

1. Laugh! 要保持開朗的心情讓生活的點點滴滴變得更美好。

2. Find inspiration! I discovered that when things slow down or when I get rained/snowed in, is the time I get most of my creative juices flowing. It gives me a chance to stop and admire the beauty and inspiration that constantly surrounds me.

這是我其中最好作品之一，叫作“Father and Sons"。它是我一個下雨天畫的素描。當我看見這張照片的時候，我深受啓發，畫畫的手就自然地移動。這幅畫帶給我一份強大的父與子愛，不能搖擺的溫暖親情。您們覺得呢？ I love this sketch because it has ability to relate to most people. The strong, warm, and unshakeable feelings of love for a brother, a grandfather or father is very relatable.

目前我在畫自己，不是因為一份虛榮心，而純粹出於自我瞭解的挑戰。我發現這次比賽給我機會看清楚自己的缺點，而且在紙上我還有一些讓自己變得更加吸引的衝動。但我必須學習真實地面對自己。

3.Another option is to watch a feel-good movie with healthy snack (I am enjoying a yogurt)

.

4. Grab an umbrella and wrap your self in a warm jacket and go exploring. I love being a tourist in my city because Vancouver offers such a great diversity of activities that you can never stop rediscovering this amazing city!

4. Rain is an excuse to Treat yourself. Warm yourself up with some high tea and tasty treats… Maybe splurge on calories ;)

5. I love going to different attractions like the art museum, science center and aquarium. These indoor activities are a great escape from the rain. My favorite is the aquarium because it is simply a visual delight. Ranging from an informative 4D show, to tanks displaying exotic marine life, live dolphin/beluga/penguin performances, and most importantly by supporting the Vancouver aquarium you support marine research and conservation. I believe that we should do our best to preserve and protect the existing species from endangerment or extinction for future generations.

6. Take a scenic car ride. To the highest point in Stanly Park overlooking the city is breathtaking. At that scenic point, the weather does not change the beauty of Vancouver.

OR Find a high perch to enjoy the view, like a revolving restaurant. Rain makes Vancouver have a very romantic feeling.

7. Shopping or Spending time with friends is also a great way to spend a rainy day. I am with my cousin Kevin and my friends Jacqueline and Monica :) Lend eachother the warmth of stimulating conversation or you can huddle together for a bit of body warmth :)

8. I love handcrafted or personally designed Christmas presents because you can imagine the love that went into perfecting every detail of the present. So on Rainy days I like to design or make present for family members, sometimes send them a hand crafted ornament or sketch. Besides I enjoy the process of creation!

Cleaning up is also fun!!! 有時候甚至變得比創造過程還亂 ;)

The “Wisdom, Love & Passion Gala Dinner” was fantastic. Elisa Chan and Anthony Lun’s performance of the “Phantom of the Opera” was explosive, powerful and breathtaking. 他們全心全意地唱出真聲，熱力地支持這個目標，令我同時產生共鳴。

I met Chung To, the amazing founder and chairman of the Chi heng Foundation.我誠心敬佩這位長輩對有愛滋病孤兒的付出，及一個更好將來的機會。

As a nursing student, I meet a lot of people who live with HIV. However, Canada’s incredible dedication and financial commitment to healthcare allow Canadians to live with the virus for many years before it develops into full-blown AIDS. However, treatment is long-term and expensive, so many people in countries that do not have affordable healthcare do die prematurely from AIDs leaving behind orphans. I feel especially saddened by the fact that many people in central China contracted HIV through selling blood to unsanitary collection agencies because they wanted to feed and clothe their family. I was incredibly touched by the orphans’ stories and how the Chi Heng Foundation has been improving the lives of many of the 500,000 AIDs impacted Children in China.

Surrounded by family and friends Supporting the Chi Heng Foundation together : )

我們的舞蹈教練Didi教了我好多東西。因為我沒有舞蹈背景，我要付出更多努力。我知道我不是最好的舞者，但我會盡我所能，跳好每一步！Practice makes perfect, right ;)

I believe that food is one of the greatest enjoyments of life. My favorite Vancouver dish is the Shanghai dumplings. I found a great place in Aberdeen that serves it, making it fresh as you walk into the restaurant.One of the greatest things about Vancouver is the access to the freshest seafood. I have not tasted fish so fresh and tender anywhere else. The chefs in Vancouver are equally amazing. The presentation of the food is breathtaking. I had the Starburst sashimi platter and when they brought it out it had white fog that was spilling out of the bowl, it looked like a sashimi volcano.  I also enjoy roasting Kobe beef on a heated stone and sharing a King Crab dinner with family members. Yum…….

The last two days blurred together with a flurry of hairspray, colorful outfits and cameras. Before we even step on to that backdrop, our amazing beauty team are meticulously setting our hair and makeup; while our image consultant Betty is making sure we look our best from head to toe. Those few minutes in front of the camera we can not only display all that we have learned from our modeling teacher Adam, but it is also an opportunity for us to shine, brazenly and fearlessly displaying our unique personalities and features. I loved every moment of it.

這是我和超厲害髮型師Daisy的快照。還有最可愛的洋蔥頭髮Joey

Today was a blast, thank you director Leo and all the hardworking staff that made it possible. It was so much fun shooting this promo-video because it was inspired by Marie Antoinette with a modern prom theme. I cannot imagine anyone better to emulate fun than one of the most notorious, glamorous and decadent party girls in history. And Of course, there was lots of cake… only as props.

中午，我們每人都吃了半盒宮寶雞丁飯。我是第一次吃沒有辣味的雞丁，反而覺得更帶出原昧，而且可以使出這道菜式的另一般風味。

Keeping warm with Linna, Sylvia and Christina. The air hummed with excitement from our first promotional video shoot.

Snapshots with cuties Christina, Carrie, Joey and Gloria.

When I flip through a magazine, the models pose so effortlessly, their figures are so slimming and skin flawless. They make it look so easy. Yet, I am discovering that there is so much hard work that goes into looking good on camera and posing effortlessly.

To look good, we are getting fitness training from Corinna, our fitness coach, to tone trouble areas. We work out twice a week, and try to stay on a balanced healthy diet. (below our amazing fitness coach)

Our beauty sponsors, Rebecca and her team, are teaching us to do take care of our skin, giving us facials and teaching us to effectively do our makeup.

Our modeling coach Adam is teaching us to not only pose, but to be more memorable, personable and sensual in our poses. He is helping us to better represent each of our unique personalities on the lens. I am trying to display my flirty and serious side ;)

I believe a picture is worth a thousand words. The girls and I are quickly becoming friends. I guess because we realized that we are all in the same boat. In these coming two months of training we will be sweating,and working hard together, so surrounding yourself with positive energy and friends will be a great asset. Besides I think I can learn a lot and grow together with these girls :)

I am cozying up to the lovely ladies: #8 Kiko,#6 Tiffany, #3 Veronica and #10 Sylvia.

I I love taking quick shots with with the other girls during our breaks;) I am finding that our bright pink jackets are attention grabbing and easy to spot in a crowd. Especially when all 10 of us are together, we have been mistaken as flight attendants, models-in-training and girls dance group!

I love makeover shows, especially those were you gasp at the before and after photos. Changing your physical appearance might not change who you are as a person, but it will change your interactions with other people. When you look beautiful on the outside, you feel confident on the inside and this can make you more attractive to the people around you :)

I arrived early so I took some candid before shots from left to right of #9 lovely Christina, #1 cutie Diana and #2 Sweetie Linna

My candid ‘Before Shot’: My condition: flat, thick and heavy hair. I have to thank my hair stylists Daisy and Jasmine for giving me a perm for Va-voom volume on top, hot oil treatments to soften my locks and for expertly sculpting my hair to give me more movement and bounce.

I was beaming and on cloud nine. I couldn’t wait to meet the other girls that made it. Since I recently came to Vancouver, I don’t have many Vancouver friends. So I was very excited I get an opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people and make a lot of new friends. Since I am very outgoing, I quickly got to know all the contestants and established a great foundation for a friendship :)

大家好﹐我是#4﹐Clarissa , 請多多指教!

We are still being kept under wraps until official press conference, so Shhhhhh....

That night, I had never prayed so hard in my life. I remember sitting in a restaurant eating my family and checking the phone every 2 mins for that phone call. My family had ordered all my favorite dishes, but I really couldn’t taste anything. To take my mind off my phone, my cousin offered to take me to see a movie. We were driving towards the movie theater when I got the phone call.

It was an unknown number. I answered wondering who it could be. Crystal from Fairchild TV called me at 9:53pm announcing that I had just made it to top 10. I felt blessed, grateful and exhilarated. As standard procedure, she asked if I needed one day to decide whether I wanted to think about it. Without hesitation, I replied that I nothing would make me happier than to be a contestant in the 2012 Miss Chinese Vancouver Pageant.

On the Day of the Auditions, I was both nervous and excited. I had my cousin Kevin to keep me company. He is my best friend in Vancouver and is the older brother I never had, always giving me his 110%. He kept me laughing all the way until it was my turn to go into see the judges. Going in, I felt confident and surprisingly calm because I had tried my best. I walked in knowing that I will leave that stage with no regrets.

I handed in my application on the day of the deadline September 21. Looking back it might have been a little impulsive because I found out during the orientation that we are strongly discouraged to sing for the talent. I had intended to show the judges my singing talent and had been training for weeks to perform my song. So I was definitely surprised about that new development. On the bright side, I had my supportive family and friends to help me brainstorm and 24 hours to come up with a new talent.  

That was the most challenging and exciting 24 hours of my life. I was determined to dig deep within myself and find inspiration. Then it hit me. I could Act.  Still, I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am of the love and support of the people around me, and the role they played in drawing out my Acting Talent.

My MCVP story actually began one month before the auditions. At the time, I was planning to enter into my third year of the Registered Nursing Program at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. On the first day of school, I received a phone call from my cousin Kevin. He told me that the Miss Chinese Vancouver Pageant is taking applications and that I should apply; otherwise, I will regret missing out on this opportunity for the rest of my life.

My cousin’s phone call just got me thinking about what is important in my life. Of course education is important, but at the same time, getting new life experiences and becoming a more well-rounded person can be equally important in personal maturity and development. Those reasons aside, I have always dreamed about being apart of the MCVP. That phone call was ultimately the push I needed to fly to Vancouver. Leaving with my family and friend’s full support beneath my wings, I took that leap of faith.