Mrs. Universe, Canadian Ashley Callingbull, bags UN award

…In Ottawa to personally receive award

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CANADA: THE reigning Mrs. Universe, Canadian Ashley Callingbull, has won United Nations “National Role Model Award.”

The highly elated Callingbull posted it on her Facebook that she would be receiving the award today, on a day she’s also celebrating her birthday.

“Today I’m in Ottawa at Carleton University to receive the Role Model Award from the United Nations for Global Dignity Day!” 25-year-old Callingbull said.  “Today is extra special because I’m receiving this award on my birthday. Happy birthday to me!”

Earlier, apparently at Toronto Pearson International Airport on her way to Ottawa to receive the award, the current Mrs. Universe, had posted a similar message.

She wrote: “Travelling to Ottawa for the day to accept my Role Model Award from the United Nations for Global Dignity Day.”

“The day is even more special because it’s my birthday today,” Callingbull joyfully said.

Callingbull, as at the time of filing this report, has received no fewer than 14,995 likes and 2,097 various comments on her Facebook timeline.

Apparently still at the venue of the award, she posted again: “Today I was honoured with the National Role Model Award in Ottawa for Global Dignity Day.  I shared my dignity story with thousands of students across Canada.

“It was even more special because all these students sang happy birthday to me at the same time from all across our nation.  It was so precious and the days isn’t even over yet.”

She came into political prominence barely two months ago when – shortly after she emerged as Mrs. Universe – Callingbull called for the rejection of Prime Minister, Stephen Harper at impending federal election.

Mrs. Universe urged Canadians – particularly those of First Nations extraction – not to vote for Harper, by extension his Conservative Party, in the October 19, 2015 poll.

And on Monday night, apparently in line with her call, Harper’s ruling party lost majority seats in the House of Commons to Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau, thus ending his number one citizen status in the 42^nd Parliament in the history of Canada.

“I urge all First Nations people in Canada to vote in this upcoming election,” Callingbull, the First Nations woman and the first Canadian to win Mrs. Universe beauty pageant, pleaded.

The call for rejection of Harper, she said, was based on the PM’s handling of the missing and murdered aboriginal women.

The Mrs. Universe emphasised that she wasn’t satisfied with how Harper had been treating the issue.

“We are in desperate need of a PM. Fight for your rights,” she added.

The Cree woman, who grew up in the Maskwacis and Enoch in Alberta reserves, said she wasn’t shaken being political in her views, particularly few days after she put her name in world reckoning.

“Really?” Callingbull wondered on her Facebook post. “People think I’m too political for my first day as Mrs. Universe. Did you really think I was going to just sit there and look pretty?”

The graduate of Television Programme from Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton rejected the insinuation of her being political.

She said: “Definitely not. I have a title, a platform and a voice to make change and bring awareness to First Nations issues here in Canada.

“I’m getting all this media attention and I’m going to use it to the best of my ability.  I’m not your typical beauty queen. Look out . . . I have a voice for change and I’m going to use it!”

The actress, motivational and model speaker also tackled Harper while speaking on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), saying: “Other countries need to know what’s going on in ours.”

“It’s so crucial that we vote a new prime minister in, because we need a new prime minister,” she said. “I believe we need to fight for our rights and we need to vote.”

“This government is very controlling of our people and soon enough our rights might be taken away,” she said.

While accepting her crown, Callingbull, who won the beauty pageant which began in 2007 and it is basically for married contestants, said she was extremely delighted to achieve the world feat for not only First Nations, but Canada.

“I’m really overwhelmed right now,” Callingbull, a trained dancer who came into national focus when she contested for Miss Canada Beauty Pageant in 2010, joyfully said.

“My phone is blowing up. Everything is blowing up. I love it,” the professional actress, who had participated in many beauty pageants – as Miss – before now, gleefully said.

The highly elated new champion expressed joy in winning the contest and the support she got from the First Nations community, as it had shattered the stereotypes against her people in Canada, saying that she’s been on the buzz of racist comments in the past while contesting.

“A lot of First Nations people are supporting me because I am the first First Nations woman to win, but they’re also supporting the pageant because it doesn’t judge you on your looks,” the second runner up in the 2010 Pageant Miss Universe Canada said.

The professional actress, who claimed to be a survivor of physical and sexual abuse, said of herself: “I was picking bottles for food. I would have never thought I’m going to be Mrs. Universe someday.”

The new Mrs. Universe added: “Growing up and dealing with that, I thought this is a perfect platform to share my story … to be a success story for them.”