by CHRIS BARRY
Name: Jessica Trisko
Age: 22
Occupation: Student/beauty queen
Bio: This delectable McGill ghetto gal and former Canadian reality TV star on the show Supermodels arrived here from Vancouver at the  tender age of 16 to study political science at McGill. Currently working towards her PhD, Jessica, a former model, says she opted to participate in the upcoming Miss Universe Canada beauty pageant because “I realized I needed some fun in my life. And after seeing all the success [Miss Universe Canada 2005] Natalie Glebova had, I thought, ‘Hey, if this brilliant, attractive woman can be successful and represent our country, why shouldn’t I give it a shot?’” Although she calls Montreal home, Jessica will ultimately be repping B.C. womanhood when the big event goes down on March 4th. Go to www.beautiesofcanada.com to tell the pageant just how much you love her, or go to www.myspace.com/jessica_nt to tell Jessica the same directly.
Is she sure it wasn’t the indisputable “coolness” factor of beauty queendom that inspired her to throw her bikini into the ring?
“Honestly, it doesn’t really seem as cool to me as it might to other contestants. I’m not an aspiring actress, singer, dancer, anything. I’m an aspiring professor. It’s more about personal development for me, much more than a coolness thing.”
How does one become a Miss Universe Canada contestant? “First I filled out a questionnaire and then, after an interview, I was selected to participate in their training camp. Later, after another interview, I was selected to be a contestant.”
Something else involved: Forking over $1,000 to attend beauty queen training camp, plus an additional $2,500 once selected as a contestant.
What, outside of a nifty crown and über-prestigious title, does one stand to gain for their $3,500 entrance fee? “The opportunity to maybe attend the Miss Universe pageant! Winners don’t really stand to gain financially. It’s the opportunities that might come your way after your reign has ended.”
What one learns in beauty queen boot camp: Mostly interview techniques. “We were asked really tough questions people might throw at us—like our views on gay marriage, things you’d expect would be too taboo for a competition like this. They teach you to acknowledge both sides of any issue before stating your opinion.”
Is learning how to expertly fellate the judges another important skill they learn, or, given that many contestants work in the modelling industry, is it assumed this is something they’ve already mastered? “I don’t know how many of the male judges want that from a woman to begin with.”
Does she consider herself a feminist? “I believe I’m doing good for other women in my country by pursuing a higher education, by becoming a professor in a male-dominated field. But am I going to go burn my bra in protest of a Victoria’s Secret fashion show? I don’t think so.”
Where she stands politically: “More to the right—except in Canada we don’t really have a right wing, so I’d say right of centre.”
Last book read: A Guide to Econometrics, by Peter Kennedy.
Musical preferences: Nelly Furtado, Beyoncé, Fergie.
Words of wisdom: “Never stop learning, living and loving.” ■
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