EDMONTON, ALBERTA – From being a nanny to a daycare owner, a Filipina-Canadian is now set to represent Canada in an international beauty pageant.
Fatima Apuyan from Edmonton will be flying to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this October 1 to 7 as the official candidate of Canada for the 2026 Mrs. International Global pageant. She won the Canada National Pageant Championship title in January 2026 in Calgary where she was crowned as Mrs. International Global Canada.
While she is set to don the Canadian flag, she is also proud to represent the Filipino-Canadian community. Now, she is ready to battle it out with other accomplished candidates from other nations in a competition that is a culmination of decades-long journey of hard work and hope.
"I am incredibly proud to represent both the Filipino-Canadian community and Canada as a whole," Apuyan said, "As a proud Canadian I carry two hearts in one sash. I represent where I grew up, which is Legazpi City, Albay, Philippines. Resilient, faith and family. And I (also) represent the values I live by in Canada. Diversity, kindness and opportunity."
Apuyan is a dedicated teacher back in the Philippines and her Canadian journey began on December 2010 when she first arrived in the country as a nanny trying to chase a dream and build a future for her children. But she admits, homesickness kills her everyday and coming to Canada meant leaving the classroom behind to work as child caregiver.
“I remember when l was a school teacher. lt was fun to see how behave, respectful and polite the Filipino students. I really missed them,” she recalls. “Being a nanny was a different story. Luckily, I found a very good family who treated me well, and the children were wonderful.”
When her contract as a caregiver ended, Apuyan immediately jumped into daycare to work as a childcare educator. From then on, she set her sights on building something of her own.
“I eventually have my own daycare. I started from scratch. l had my license approved on April 2022,” says Apuyan, who now owns ‘Little Bunnies Learning Centre and OSC’. “l really enjoy it because l got to share my knowledge (in providing) quality childcare service and education.”
Now the Filipina educator is faced with another challenge and responsibility, outshining candidates from across the globe in the coming Mrs. International Global pageant. As she prepares to fly to Malaysia this autumn, she relies on the strength of the community that helped raise her up.
“We got this, we are resilient. We came to Canada with big dreams and bigger hearts.”
Apuyan said she will be grateful for the prayers the community will offer while Canada can also vote for her when the voting online opens. Sharing her story in social media can also amplify and highlight the power of a Filipina-Canadian immigrant experience.
When she steps onto the global stage this October, she won’t just be walking for a title, she will be carrying the dreams of two vibrant cultures, showing what Filipinos and Canadians can do to compete at a high level on an international stage.
