WIDE WORLD OPENED UP FOR PROUD CANADIAN
Miss Eco International from Amherstburg has travelled world as proud Canadian
Two-time Miss Universe Canada finalist Amber Bernachi – an avid traveller who has visited 36 countries – says she’s learned many things through her travels, but one seems to stand out: the world loves Canadians.
“Canadians are very well respected around the world and that always makes me proud,” says Bernachi, 26, of Amherstburg.
Bernachi was a finalist for Miss Universe Canada in 2014 and again two years later. Following her firstrunner-up win in Toronto in 2016, she qualified to represent Canada in Miss International in Tokyo in October, as well as in Egypt earlier this year, where she won Miss Eco International 2017.
Miss Eco International 2017 is a pageant that is officially registered through the Ministry of Culture that aims to support eco-tourism and the environment, explains Bernachi.
She says searching for evening gowns can be the most exciting part of pageantry, “especially when you try on a dress and you know it’s the one,” she adds.
For the Miss Eco International pageant, she says there is a competition for Best Eco Dress, and it stipulated that the dress must be designed out of recycled materials. Bernachi had decided she would take on this task of designing and creating her own dress.
“I made mine out of old CDs and VHS tape and created a mermaid inspired dress.”
She calls winning Miss Eco International 2017 one of her greatest accomplishments to date.
“It was a surreal experience to hear my country called as the winner,” says Bernachi. “I couldn’t be more proud to have represented Canada so well and to bring home an international title and crown.”
It is a great feeling to represent your country internationally and Bernachi says she is always so proud to say she is Canadian when she travels or is competing in pageants.
“People tend to want to tell me something positive about another Canadian they’ve met before or that they love what our country stands for,” says Bernachi. “It’s an incredible feeling coming from a country that is so well respected by people from around the world.”
When Bernachi represents Canada internationally and competes with other countries around the world through pageants, she says she is an ambassador for Canada.
“Anything I say or do during the competition, I like to believe is a reflection of who I am as a Canadian and because of this I make sure I am representing Canada with the utmost respect and integrity,” says Bernachi. “I wear my Canadian sash with pride and I use it to promote our country.”
Bernachi has a significant academic background. She has her Masters of Business Administration and three degrees: Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and Bachelor of Commerce – all from the University of Windsor.
She participated in an exchange program through her MBA program and lived in France for four months. During this time, she says she travelled almost every weekend to a new country in Europe.
Bernachi says she was very fortunate to have parents who would take her and her sister on trips at least once or twice a year growing up.
“I believe visiting other countries at such a young age instilled in me a passion to experience more,” explains Bernachi.
She’ll be visiting Cambodia and India within the next few months and plans to continue travelling the world for years to come.
“There is something very appealing to me about being somewhere completely foreign and experiencing how other people live, and integrating myself within their cultures,” says Bernachi.
Aside from learning that many people in the world love Canadians, she’s found value in some simple things and life lessons through her voyages, such as the fact that a smile is a universal language. She adds that most people in the world are good, and you are never truly alone when you travel.
While in university, Bernachi had the opportunity to travel to Thailand with an organization called Volunteering Solutions for a month to work with children in schools and underprivileged areas. She also spent two weeks in Nicaragua working with two charities, Operation Smile and SOS Children’s Villages. She says she appreciated being able to witness and experience firsthand the positive impact these charities have in the lives of children.
With Operation Smile, which raises money to provide surgeries for children with cleft lip and cleft palate, Bernachi explains that these procedures literally change the lives of these children not only from a health standpoint but also from an emotional standpoint, allowing them to have a chance at a fulfilling life.
“The first time I met a young child, only four months old, with a cleft palate, it was heart-wrenching to watch him choking as he was trying to drink his milk,” she recalls. “Because of the open hole in their mouths, eating and drinking are almost impossible for these children.”
Bernachi was in the operating room during the child’s operation and afterwards she helped deliver him back to his mother. It was a lifechanging moment for this child and his family, and also for the volunteer team involved, she says.
“I will always remember that particular day. It underlined my belief that we are all here to help one another to have the best possible lives we can.”
Throughout her time in Nicaragua, she also visited SOS Children’s Villages, which helps children who are orphans, or whose parents couldn’t afford to take care of them, or just didn’t want them.
“Knowing this information beforehand, we arrived with heavy hearts, but the instant you are in their presence you find yourself singing, dancing and playing along,” says Bernachi.
She says the orphaned children were laughing and full of energy, and they were so excited to see Bernachi and her team of volunteers.
“They were pulling us left and right to show us their stuffed animal or toy they had, and they were so proud of what little they had,” says Bernachi.
And the children wanted to learn from her and other volunteers, she says. “The girls would ask me to teach them how to walk like a beauty queen,” says Bernachi. “They were so full of life and it was really moving and inspiring to see these children so happy, considering their circumstance. It really helps to put my life into perspective.”
Bernachi loves taking on a leadership role and mentoring younger generations. Locally, she’s coached figure skating, soccer and dance.
“I hope to help children find their passions in life,” says Bernachi. “I also feel it is very important to stay active both physically and mentally and I believe extracurricular activities helps to provide that for children.”
Bernachi says she enjoys reading, writing and researching countries around the world for future travel expeditions. She plays volleyball and soccer for fun and says she tries to work out once a day.
“I like to get a full body workout from boxing and running,” says Bernachi.
She adds that she enjoys spending time with family and friends and does so as often as possible.
One of her favourite things to do is listen to the stories from when her grandparents lived in Italy or when her own parents were young.
“I think it is important to learn about where you come from because it speaks to the type of person you are today,” says Bernachi.
In competing in pageants worldwide, Bernachi says a common question that is asked during interviews pertains to the idea of beauty and its true definition. Bernachi asserts that it’s not just about physical appearance, but also emotional intelligence, personal growth, public speaking skills, being a good role model and personal accomplishments.
Bernachi says she’s competed against doctors, lawyers and entrepreneurs – women who are pursing degrees in every area of study and accomplishing great things in their lives.
“They are all driven, motivated women who do not need a title to make a difference in the world but want a chance to represent their country internationally and have a voice,” explains Bernachi. “The title is not given to the most aesthetically pleasing woman on stage. It is given to the woman who is well rounded, personable, and a good representation of a Canadian woman.”
Bernachi says competing in pageants has pushed her to become the best version of herself both mentally and physically.
“It has allowed me to network with other women and established business people from around the world. These pageants have given me many new opportunities that I would not have otherwise, not to mention many global friends.”
More recently during her time competing in pageants, she has had women and young girls who she’s never met message her and say that they are inspired by her and they have been following her journey. Those comments have now become her motivation to continue, says Bernachi.
“Life is about finding your purpose, what makes you happy and then continuing to follow that path throughout your life,” says Bernachi. “I am learning more and more each day about where my path is leading me. I’m not sure what my end goal is, but that’s what keeps this path I’m on so exciting.”
Her recent Miss Eco International 2017 win is only the beginning, she says, and it has opened many new doors and opportunities. She hopes to take advantage of each one and really make her reign a memorable one.
She says life is about stepping outside of your comfort zone, meeting new people, trying new things and experiencing new cultures, while all the time trying to do some good in this world.
“I plan to continue with this mindset and see what new goals and opportunities I will be presented with next,” says Bernachi.