About Me

Hi, I’m Marilou! I’m from a small town called Edmundston in ​New Brunswick. A year ago, I moved to Alberta to pursue my ​studies in psychology and drama at the University of Calgary in ​hope of becoming a doctor.

Since the start of elementary school, I was always super ​implicated in extra-curriculars. Debate club, radio station, speech ​competitions, science fairs, math competitions, spelling bee, ​running club, you name it I probably tried it.

Although many parents and teachers thought I was doing so well, my ​extracurriculars were the distraction I used for my highly functioning ​anxiety. From my first day of school, I felt different from my peers, I ​couldn’t connect with others and creating friendships has always been ​hard for me.

From health and family issues my anxiety grew so strong that I ​had my first trip to the children’s psych ward at 7 years old. From ​there, I was in and out of the ward many times.

Around 15 years old, I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and AuDHD. This diagnosis changed a lot of things for me but also made me feel misunderstood ​and lost. The stereotype surrounding the high grades was abnormal for someone with AuDHD made me believe I was different, too different to fit in any ​categori.

Not long after, I was sent to foster care for different circumstances. As there were ​not a lot of options, I later on was put in an independent youth living. Living taught ​me a lot about myself and my relationships.

My capabilities were doubted a lot due to my situation but I got to ​prove everyone wrong and graduated at the same time as my ​class. After high school, I took some time off to be sure of my ​career choices and to be able to save some money.

As I was looking for hobbies during that time, I decided to pursue a ​dream of mine and enter a pageant. Not a year after my first pageant, I ​won my 1st national title and became Miss Teen Personality Canada 2022 ​and I am now preparing to compete for Miss Teen Personality ​International!

Through my journey in pageantry, I got the chance to speak out on ​many subjects and share some parts of my story. When I started ​pageantry, I had in mind to create a blog and podcast for self-confidence ​to support others in a way I wish I had, I decided to change my platform ​for when in competition. Although this is not my official platform ​during competitions I am still fully committed in advocating for mental ​health which those ties in with my platform for pageant competitions.

With changes in my life and financial situation after aging out of the ​youth in care in an independent living program, I realized how the ​barriers I faced at 16 were not the last ones I would have to deal with as ​someone who was in care. These challenges brought me to change my ​platform to advocate and help other youth in care.

In the past few years, my health has been affected in many different ​ways. More recently, I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological ​Disorder following a major concussion. As the symptoms progressed very ​quickly, it was a shock to learn how to walk again without feeling my ​legs much. Luckily, I am getting stronger and more positive about this ​diagnosis. For me it was really hard, having many goals, and plans and ​missing a pageant during my hospital stay I felt like nothing was the ​same which wasn’t. After my diagnosis, I was sent home walking with a ​walker. This disorder has many different symptoms and being in the ​complete unknown about when will I not be a walker anymore if will I ​need it again after is a big adaptation from movements in my acting ​class to wondering if I can still be implicated in pageantry and diverse ​projects. . When I was Miss Teen Personality Canada I was affected by ​imposter syndrome and felt like I wasn’t doing enough or needing to ​make an excuse.

This is why I created this website! As I am preparing for internationals ​while also adapting to a new lifestyle and learning my triggers, I thought ​having a website would be an amazing way to keep you all updated on ​my many projects but also talk about different things and update to share ​about events, personal stories, struggles and internationals prep!

That was a longer introduction than I expected but I am so excited to ​start a new chapter in my journey, the one where I don’t let fear control ​my dreams.

Thank you for reading this fully and for supporting me in my journey!

🤍