Andreia Pacheco has seen more than her share of frustrations and setbacks, but there’s something about a positive mindset that propels her.
The single mom born with a disability survived two car crashes, one catastrophic in 2008, the other was eight years later when she was in her final trimester of pregnancy, leaving her with chronic pain and trauma.
“I was just surviving,” says Pacheco, who has Okihiro syndrome and is missing of the radial bone in her arms. “I had no real purpose other to make sure everything with my son was great … Something was kind of missing for me.
“And then I saw pageants. I love them, I love watching the pageants,” she says.
But she noticed in Canada she had yet to see any person enter a competition that she or her son could relate to, someone who looked different, she recalls.
“My entire premise was to change that.”
It was at that point that she switched gears. Instead of simply surviving, she began to thrive.
Pacheco, who is now 41, entered her first pageant two years ago and she started to become familiar with the whole process. As she explored the pageant circuit, she created a sisterhood or what she describes as a tribe of advocates who believe in her cause.
And she created The Inclusive Mindset Movement, advocating for people with disabilities for equity, equality, diversity “and most importantly, true inclusion.”
Her goal was to be a title holder for that first pageant she entered — Canada United World Pageant, given its focus on creating stronger women through community service and giving back.
On May 19, Pacheco was crowned Ms. Canada United World 2024 in London, Ont. The Ms. category is for women aged 28 and over.
“I am proud to be the first Canadian to break through the glass ceiling and set a new standard for beauty,” says Pacheco, who has her own business, Barrie Goddess Crystals.
This September, she will be competing at the United World pageant in Texas.
Her eight-year-old son, meanwhile, is encouraged by his mom’s activities and has followed in her footsteps, winning his own pageant and becoming an ambassador for her platform.
“It’s been really, really beautiful watching his journey as well,” she says.
Pacheco, who hails from Toronto, often came to the Barrie area for golf tournaments as an ambassador for what is now the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital as a young teen.
In 2011, she decided to buy a home with property here instead of living the condo life in Toronto. Easy access to Lake Simcoe sealed the deal for her, she says.
It’s a decision that she’s been delighted with, citing friendly people, clean air, a pretty environment and plenty of space.
“I just fell in love with the city, I fell in love with the people, I fell in love with the way they take care of each other, the way everybody says hello, good morning. It was just so different from growing up in Toronto,” she says.
“I will never leave Barrie. I want to say I’m a Toronto girl, but I’m a Barrie girl by heart now. Barrie has won over my heart in the past decade and a half.”
She also appreciates that her son has access to many parks and a school with a grassy playground.
“Up here, you have room to grow and thrive and I really love that,” she adds.
Among all her activities, Pacheco has also become involved in the city’s advisory board for Ward 10, providing opinions from the perspective of both a single mom and a person with disabilities. She also volunteers with Empower Simcoe, which works to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities.
For more on Pacheco’s journey, you can find her on Instragam at andreia_pacheco_pageantry_.
