Alice Panikian
Encyclopedia
Alice Panikian is a Bulgarian-born Canadian model who was crowned Miss Universe Canada
on March 21, 2006. She attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
in Toronto, and graduated in 2003.
At 6'0" (1.83 m) she is not only the tallest major national titleholder in Canadian history, but also had earned a significant amount of attention from the world press as one of the strongest candidates to succeed to then-reigning Miss Universe
, Natalie Glebova
, also from Canada. As no country has ever won the title back-to-back (later achieved by Dayana Mendoza
and Stefanía Fernández
in 2009, both of them from Venezuela
), Panikian had a significant historical hurdle to jump despite many pundits who argue that she was an even stronger candidate than her predecessor. Alice did not become Miss Universe 2006 (that honour went to Zuleyka Rivera
of Puerto Rico
), but she did finish in 6th place. Alice enjoys writing short stories, and her hobbies include volleyball and yoga.
Panikian is of Bulgarian
and Armenian
ancestry, which comes through her paternal grandfather and accounts for her Armenian surname. She came to Canada with her parents when she was five years old. Panikian studied at York University
and majored in English and Communications. She studied broadcast journalism and resides in Toronto, Ontario and aspires to be a journalist
or a TV show host.
Before becoming Miss Universe Canada, Alice represented Canada at the 2006 Reinado Internacional del Café
or International Queen of Coffee pageant, held in Manizales, Colombia
on January 9, where she became the first Canadian winner in the history of the pageant.
She also took the "Miss Photogenic" and "Best in Swimsuit" awards at the Miss Universe Canada Pageant.
Panikian was supposed to represent Canada and compete at Miss International 2007
held in Tokyo, Japan, but due to schedule conflicts in college, she did not compete. Justine Stewart took her place.
Miss Universe Canada
-External links:*...
on March 21, 2006. She attended William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute is a semestered secondary school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on 20 Tillplain Road. It was built in 1960 to accommodate the skyrocketing number of new students in what was then known as North York, and to ease overcrowding at Northview Collegiate...
in Toronto, and graduated in 2003.
At 6'0" (1.83 m) she is not only the tallest major national titleholder in Canadian history, but also had earned a significant amount of attention from the world press as one of the strongest candidates to succeed to then-reigning Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
, Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova
Natalie Glebova is a Russian Canadian beauty queen, the 2005 Miss Universe title holder.-Personal life:Glebova was born in Tuapse, Russia. She studied classical piano and graduated from a professional musical school at age of 12. She also has won various regional rhythmic gymnastics championships...
, also from Canada. As no country has ever won the title back-to-back (later achieved by Dayana Mendoza
Dayana Mendoza
Dayana Sabrina Mendoza Moncada is a model and beauty pageant titleholder who won the titles of Miss Venezuela 2007 and Miss Universe 2008.-Personal life:...
and Stefanía Fernández
Stefanía Fernández
Stefanía Fernández Krupij is a Venezuelan beauty pageant titleholder who won the Miss Venezuela 2008 and Miss Universe 2009 titles. She earned a Guinness record by being the first Miss Universe winner who was crowned by a compatriot....
in 2009, both of them from Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
), Panikian had a significant historical hurdle to jump despite many pundits who argue that she was an even stronger candidate than her predecessor. Alice did not become Miss Universe 2006 (that honour went to Zuleyka Rivera
Zuleyka Rivera
Zuleyka Jerrís Rivera Mendoza is a Puerto Rican beauty queen who held the titles Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2006 and Miss Universe 2006. She made her debut as a telenovela actress in Telemundo's soap opera Dame Chocolate.-Early life:...
of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
), but she did finish in 6th place. Alice enjoys writing short stories, and her hobbies include volleyball and yoga.
Panikian is of Bulgarian
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
and Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
ancestry, which comes through her paternal grandfather and accounts for her Armenian surname. She came to Canada with her parents when she was five years old. Panikian studied at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
and majored in English and Communications. She studied broadcast journalism and resides in Toronto, Ontario and aspires to be a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
or a TV show host.
Before becoming Miss Universe Canada, Alice represented Canada at the 2006 Reinado Internacional del Café
Reinado Internacional del Café
The Reinado Internacional del Café beauty pageant, was internationally launched as the Reinado Continental del Café in 1957, and the name was changed to the current one in 1972 in order to allow for the participation of countries from America and other continents...
or International Queen of Coffee pageant, held in Manizales, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
on January 9, where she became the first Canadian winner in the history of the pageant.
She also took the "Miss Photogenic" and "Best in Swimsuit" awards at the Miss Universe Canada Pageant.
Panikian was supposed to represent Canada and compete at Miss International 2007
Miss International 2007
Miss International 2007, the 47th Miss International pageant was held at The Hotel Prince Park Tower, Tokyo, Japan on October 15, 2007. 61 contestants from all over the world competed for the crown marking at that time, the biggest turnout in the pageants 47 year history. That record was held until...
held in Tokyo, Japan, but due to schedule conflicts in college, she did not compete. Justine Stewart took her place.
External links
- Official site
- Interview with Alice
- http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/alice_panikian, Fashion model directory