Luschia Melina Bakker-Ayers. Four words into one show.

How would I put myself into one single tv show?! I am just all over the place all the time! My tv show would be about standing out and being yourself completely. I am not at all the stereotypical pageant girl type and I like to use that to my advantage. I don't wear the hair extensions, my hair is short. I don't have fake nails, my nails are beaten from working at a restaurant. I don't wear lots of make-up, just the occasional days with Mascara. I don't shop all the time, hand me downs are good enough. I'm not loaded with money, I work two jobs and I'm still broke haha.

The idea and theme of my show would be about 'beating to the beat of your own drum'. Live life to its absolute fullest without having to break laws. I am one of the least girly girls in my town and yet I am doing something that is stereoptypically very girly. And you know what, I love it. I like pushing limits and having fun. I want girls to follow my example by not looking to the media and peers for examples of how to act and look. Miss Teen Canada-World's motto is so amazingly accurate! "Be your own kind of beautiful!"

Activity is very important in a young girls life. Whether recreational or competative. I danced for 9 years competitively and was a part of a pre-professional dance company. As well I did swimming and running with school teams for fun but still competed. They were for fun but yet I did what I could do as best possible for myself in competiions and thats all I ask of girls to do with theirselfs. Pressuring yourself to do things to the absolute best is can be unhealthy both emotionally and physically.

Photo by Chantal Bond

For my three sponsors I hope they would be Jergens, Finesse and Goody. Throughout my years growing up I have used all three of these companies products and would promote them wonderfully. Through doing my hair for dance, Miss Teen, taming if after a day at the beach, pulling it back for work I have used and still will use incredible amounts of hair spray, pins, elastics and hair bands. Being the star of a tv show looking good (sometimes, for me haha) Finesse hair products can be a big help. http://www.finessehaircare.com/index.html  After cleaning and conditioning my hair incredibly with Finesse I could do a fancy updo with Goody's magnificent products, my favorites are bobby pins and bun pins. http://www.goody.com/#/grid/default  Since I spend a lot of time in the water, either at work, the beach, lake or river my skin can get dried out and Jergens can rejuvinate it miraculously to give it a healthy look again. http://www.jergens.com/  All of these companies would have advertisement space on my show and I would showcase them whenever possible. I would benifit from a sponsorship for my show from them and they would benifit from me having the products throughout my show.

Four words. Luschia Melina Bakker-Ayers. One show. Impossible. Live life to fullest :)

Xoxo Luschia

My home town,  beautiful little town of Qualicum Beach is located on the east coast of Vancouver Island about midway up the island. It is quaint and charming. Much of the small town charm of Qualicum Beach is due to there are no franchises or big companies. There is a by-law that says they are not allowed, which means that most businesses in town are  owner operated. The  downtown core  consists of about  5 main  blocks. Throughout these streets there are boutiques and shops  offering a variety of wares/services, including bakeries, deli's, local artisans, banks, restaurants, insurance, travel , bikes , books, health food , post office, hardware, florist, our local (and very fancy ) grocery store Qualicum Foods, a talented theatre group, and many more.  The entrance street into town off the highway is absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite places to drive in the fall.  A beautiful entrance to Qualicum Beach.  What I haven't mentioned yet is the beach!!!  The most incredible fantastic sandy beach that stretches for miles when the tide is out.  People come from all over the world to visit our area and this beach, and to think that we live here and can enjoy it year round.  Amazing.

Photo By Karin Skapski

All through the year there are many different festivites that Qualicum puts on. Some of these include Fire and Ice Street Festival (http://www.fireandicestreetfestival.com/), The Qualicum Beach Farmers Market (http://www.qbfarmersmarket.com/), The Kris Kringle Kraft Fair (http://www.kriskringle.ca/showinfo.html) and The annual Fathers Day Show and Shine (http://www.visitparksvillequalicumbeach.com/cms.asp?wpID=333&Display=ite...) which has been mentioned on The Oprah Show as one of the top ten things to do on Fathers Day.

This picture was taken by my Uncle Henk at the car show last weekend in my father's newly restored '57 chev pickup truck .  ( My dress was sponsored by "Bliss" in Nanaimo.)

Not only is Qualicum my hometown and a great place to visit,  but the whole Island is beautiful. Rugged and picturesuqe.  One of my favorite places to visit is the west coast, in particular Tofino and Uculet. I have spent many summers on  long sandy beaches there, incredible bays and massive lakes. Chestermans Beach , Long Beach, Wickininish, Toquart Bay, Kennedy Lake. You name it, chances are I've been there. A truly enticing place to visit is The Tauca Lea Resort (http://www.taucalearesort.com/). Just a drive away is my families favorite bakery and place to spend time after a long tiring day bodysurfing, boogie boarding and scampering in the surf, The Commonloaf Bakery.

I want to tell you about where I work.  I have 2 jobs.  A sales clerk position at Arbutus Emporium and "dish pit diva" my mom calls me (aka dishwasher and prep cook) at Giovanni's restaurant.

Arbutus Emprium is a cute little store filled with beautiful clothing, amazing jewellry, giftware, decorations, pictures, stained glass and many other things. The staff is friendly and wonderful to work with. Feel free to come in and explore :) Just up the block is my second job at Giovanni's. Giovannis Ristorante is one of the fanciest restaurants in Qualicum Beach and the food is delicious! Both jobs are wonderful and I highly reccommend checking both places out while you visit.

A charming thing about Qualicum is the attention to detail throughout the whole town. We have hanging baskets (flowers) from each lamp post during the Spring and Summer. Our flower beds are filled around the entrance from the Beach and our town Square has a magnificent fountain!

Photo by Karin Skapski

Come visit me in beautiful Qualicum Beach and experience the wonderful feeling I have each day living here :)

WOW! My grade 11 year is almost over. That seems so crazy to say but I will be finished school this Friday. I am so very excited for the summer. Toronto for Miss Teen Canada-World and then volunteering as a Leader for the camp I have attended for the last three years. This year has had its ups and downs for sure. I am glad to be finished all my courses, but I am also nervous to be a Grade 12! High school seems like its gone by in the blink of an eye. I have enjoyed days in the sun, school dances, bonfires at the beach, movies on rainy days. I got my N last month which was such an exhilerating feeling. I love having the freedom of driving alone (if mommy or daddy lets me use their cars haha). I was hired at a fancy restaurant and I work at a clothing store for a family friend. This year has been lots of working hard and studying. I dream of being a surgeon one day. I am trying hard to save up my money for schooling and travelling after high school. The last couple weekends have been pretty busy. I attended prom as a date with one of my very good friends. I had a fantastic time! Only a year away til I attend my very own prom. I have had two years practice so far :) This past weekend I fund raised at the Market on Saturday for Free The Children, it was a great success! Thanks to Kiwanis Club for generously allowing me to use their Popcorn and Cotton Candy equipment. This week will be filled with studying working and spending the evenings at our spectacular beach! I hope everyone is having a wonderful June, like me.

Xoxo Luschia

Qualicum Beach, my hometown, has one of the most beautiful beaches I have ever visited. Its name clearly says it all. Parksville however has a beach equally as beautiful. Since Qualicum and Parksville are neighbooring towns I was asked to attend the Grand Opening of the truly gorgeous brand new board walk. It has just been recently finished along the beach shore.  To match the fascinating boardwalk I looked glamorous in a short Mori Lee gown which was graciously borrowed to me by Bliss Bridals in Nanaimo. http://www.eventsbybliss.ca/.  There was a ribbon cutting ceremony and to make the grand opening extra special the PDBA organizaed an adorable kids bike parade. http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumb..., http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumb...

I hope to spend many days along the exquisite board walk in the summer after my return from Toronto for the Finals of Miss Teen Canada-World and the kids camp I attend as a leader each summer :)

Xoxo Luschia

The Migration from Sointula to Victoria by Alex Morton and many others was truly magnificent! If it weren't for the Mayor of Qualicum Beach, Teunis Westbroek asking me to attend as a dignitary to greet Alex Morton as she arrived in Qualicum along her way to Victoria I would not have learnt about the problem to do with the fish farms and the tragic affect on the wild salmon. On May 2nd many people gathered in Qualicum's town square including myself to greet Alex and all of the migrators. Alex Morton wanted to bring awareness to the salmon, and I beleve she did an excellent job! I was fortunate to meet her in person and attend a lunch where people spoke, told stories and stated intriguing information. On May 8th in Victoria a massive crowd gathered in front of the parliament buildings, to read more about Alex's fabulous work visit the website at http://www.salmonaresacred.org/.

Xoxo Luschia

On May 1st the Qualicum Beach Farmers Market (http://www.qbfarmersmarket.com/) officially opened until early October. Every Saturday morning the Farmers Market takes place uptown including local venders and entertainment. I attended the First Farmers Market as well as the Fire and Ice Street Festival in a beautiful black red and white dress donated to me by Jean Young of Arbutus Emporium. There were many intricately made garden decorations and home made clothing throughout the market as well as delectable fresh grown and fresh baked goodies. I will soon be attending the market as a volunteer vender. The Kiwanis Club has kindly allowed me the use their equipment to sell Cotton Candy and Pop Corn to raise funds for Free The Children.

Later in the morning the towns annual Fire and Ice Street Festival started to take place throughout the streets in Qualicum Beach. I walked along the streets meeting many new people, taking pictures and tasting lots of chili. Luckily chili is one of my most favorite foods to eat, along with chicken strips and french fries. The fire component of the festival is many businesses from around the town making chili and competing to see who has the best. The Ice component is ice carvings being carved by artists from the island. I was asked to be a judge of the amateur ice carvers. We couldn't have asked for a better weekend to have the festival and opening of the Farmers Market on, the weather was absolutely perfect and sunny.

Xoxo Luschia

Me at one of the main Qualicum Beach signs

Me and daddy :) I'm very much a daddy's girl

Hello! Wow it has been a long time! Sorry to have dropped off the face of the Earth, life has been extremely busy, which I assume it has been for all of the girls. Over the last month I have been attending different events almost every weekend, while trying to do both jobs and school. School is ending very soon, which is so exciting but as well very nerve-racking. I can not believe in 19 days I will be done as a grade eleven! Graduation is only a year away. Oh. My. Goodness. This week it was my birthday and I am now 17. On Friday May 21st, I had my road test to get my N, and I passed the first time on my mommy's standard car. It was such a magnificent feeling being able to drive alone at last. All last weekend I drove around with my best friend and walked at Little Qualicum Falls. On my actual birthday I had a lovely family tea then went and spent all the money I was given, oops. But really, who could resist! Haha. Last night I had my birthday party with all my friends, we had a delicious bbq at my house, hung out around the fire in my back yard and burned off all the calores while bouncing on the trampoline. Definitely fun times :) My neighbor, who is a year older than me had her birthday this week as well, so we hung out over at her house later. Currently I am reading an astounding book called A Million Little Pieces by James Frey, I understand it isn't a true story, but I am still amazed at how touching it is and how simple but effective the writing style is.

I have been in the paper many times over the last couple of months and I'm trying to find all of the articles online. So far I have only been able to find a couple. If you are interested in reading them, the links are http://www.bclocalnews.com/vancouver_island_central/parksville_qualicumb... and http://www2.canada.com/oceansidestar/news/community/story.html?id=cbd30e...

Xoxo Luschia

As many people know, as a Miss Teen, you are required to have a platform. My platform is Depression because many teens and people suffer from Depression including myself and I would like to make people more aware of it while cycling across Canada next summer with my mother who suffers from Depression as well. I have been treated this year with Brain State Technologies and I'm hoping it can help me back to my extremely perky old self. Lately I had an English Poetry Assignment which we had to choose a theme and write three poems about. I chose Depression. English is my least favorite subject along with Socials, but I'm quite proud of this poem, so I wanted to share it with all of you.

Conclusion of Pain

Always alone I seem to be,
No one around that understands me.
Waiting for that date,
One which will reinstate,
That ecstasy I once felt
Which made my body melt.
Days I spend alone waiting for the sun,
Wanting nothing, but to run.
A curdling scream needs to escape,
In my throat it slowly takes shape.
Releasing my pain through this noise,
River of tears fall, the colour of turquoise.
I realize there is no specific date,
No longer do I have to sit and wait.
Intoxication of joy slowly runs into my veins,
My days have concluded of never-ending pains.

Tell me what you think if you like.

Xoxo Luschia

Where to start? Life is busy, but quite fantastic. I now have a new job as well as my old one and work five days a week and attend school five days a week. While juggling work and school I am on my search for sponsors and meeting with them as well. The weather in Qualicum has been lovely lately and I'm very stoked that Spring is here.

Anyways I haven't really told you about me, just about a few things I have done lately. My favorite colour I'd have to say, is blue :) I love being out in the wilderness and having fun with my friends. Dirtbiking, quadding and going fast is one of my favorite things. It's always been my dream to own a jeep, so with my jobs I hope to buy one soon. I have lived in Qualicum as long as I remember and I've lived on the same road the whole time :) Currently I really enjoy the songs Billionaire - Travis McCoy and Breakeven - The Script.

Xoxo Luschia