The Sault’s Ann Ficociello has been selected as a delegate for the upcoming Miss Universe Canada 2025 competition that will be held in Windsor on Aug. 9.
“I was very excited when I found out I was selected. I read the email and I just stopped for a second and I thought ‘wow, this is amazing,’” Ficociello told SooToday.
She was selected after applying online, submitting photos and answering questions in a telephone interview.
Miss Universe Canada aims to showcase confident, empowered women and the positive change they produce in their respective communities across Canada.
“A year ago I saw an article about Madison Kvaltin, who was the Miss Universe Canada 2023 winner. I read the article and I saw the photos that were attached and I was just really inspired.
"She’s from Sudbury and was living on Manitoulin Island. I thought ‘that's not very far from where I live so maybe this is something that I can do,'” Ficociello said.
She and other delegates are attending weekly rehearsals in Toronto every Sunday from now until the end of July.
The rehearsals include practicing runway walking and poses as well as public speaking.
Each delegate must also perform a delegate mission for the Canadian Mental Health Association as the August competition approaches.
Ficociello will be bicycling 100 km along the streets of the Sault this month to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
“I love biking so I chose to do that for my humanitarian project. We all have a humanitarian project to complete and that can be whatever the delegate wants it to be.
"So, for me it’s a 100 km bike ride. I'm going to try to do it all in one day. If not then I'll probably do two 50 km bike rides,” Ficociello said.
Funds raised from her bike ride will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Windsor-Essex County’s office as Windsor is the host city for the Miss Universe Canada 2025 competition.
Physical and mental health are important to Ficociello.
Originally trained as a graphic designer and having worked for OLG, she changed her career path and graduated from Laurentian University with a bachelor of science in nursing in 2012.
Ficociello currently works in the Sault as an occupational health and safety and risk specialist.
She is calling on her hometown of Sault Ste. Marie - and beyond - to support her in two ways.
Donations can be made to Ficociello's 100 km bike challenge fundraiser here.
Community members can also help Ficociello secure a finalist spot by downloading the Miss Universe Canada App on their smartphones and voting for her. The first vote is free. Every vote brings her closer to the crown.
The app can be downloaded here.
She’s already made it to the top 20.
Voting continues until Aug. 7 to choose five finalists for the crown.
Ficociello said she is encouraged by the support she’s received from family members and friends, referring to them as ‘Team Ann.’
She has her eyes on the crown because she sees it as a platform to speak out on breaking down barriers around mental health, especially among youth and marginalized communities.
“I've worked in mental health for over six years. I’ve seen the direct impact that lack of funding has on individuals and communities so it's very important to me to raise funds for mental health,” Ficociello said.