Neecee Lexy
- Jun 28, 2018
- 10 min read

Pegah Donna Ms CTC 2017- a Beauty Queen with multiple crowns and purpose!

From the beautiful city of Tehran, Iran comes a beauty queen with heart & a purpose to conquer! Let's unfold this fairytale story.

Stage Name: Pegah Donna

Home Town: Toronto (Canada)

Entreprise: Assia event management

Actress

Model

Beauty Queen

radio Host

Activist

An inspiring story of a little girl dreaming of becoming a super star at young and standing up for people and animal rights. She started her career as a young model with big dreams, who later worked as a Radio VJ; and later on eventually, she hosted her own TV show and obtained an event management degree which led her to owing her own event planning company. Now she stands as a bright young entrepreneur with multiple Beauty Queen crowns. Pegah’s story has just started. We had the honour to interview her today!

Pegah Donna, is more than just a BEAUTY QUEEN with several crown titles. She is full of determination, courage, and possesses a true quality of Queen. born in Tehran, Iran she was exposed to a very different upbringing. she experienced traumatic childhood due to War Where she was picked up from rubbles of war attack she faced losing many of her loved ones, and parent who had overcame a PTSD. Pegah had experienced poverty conditions with no hope for tomorrow living in a refugee camp. As a little girl , she was always hopeful to aspire greatness and thrive to excellence without holding back due to life obstacles.

She has turned her painful days into a beautiful growth. Now as a successful entrepreneur, Beauty Queen with several crown titles, and owning her Event management company (Assia event management). Regardless of what life had brought to her she managed to stay positive and Graceful. This is truly a character of Queen and phenomenal young women. I do hope her story today inspired you in any shape or form. May God continues to bless her with more. Like the quote by Audrey Hepburn says:

“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring ~that she lovingly gives; the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.” ~ Audrey Hepburn

Queen Pegah Donna, we are honoured to have you as our guest feature story this week on NEECEE LEXY. Without prolong due, let's get to the interview, shall we?

Welcome Ms Donna, please tell us about yourself and how you started your work as Radio video, Host, modelling)

I was born in the beautiful country of Iran (Tehran) and came to Canada with my family at the age of 11. It didn't take long for me to learn English but it took a little longer to make friends. We moved a lot around the city and one of the neighborhoods we moved to wasn't as ethnic as it is now; my school had less students from other cultural backgrounds. I was bullied often by the kids there and it was a little difficult but even as a child, I was a hard cookie and had a tough skin. I knew what I wanted to be and what I had to do, I totally stood up for myself and didn't let the bullying ruin who I was. I was so passionate about being in the entertainment industry (acting/ modeling) and helping people and animals since I can remember. I was so young and would pretend I was a famous actress doing good deeds for people.

I started modeling at a young age doing local fashion shows and prints. Shortly after, I was getting a lot of job offers and that was when my parents decided I should stop before work affects my education and drains me out. Years later, I got back to it and continued with fashion shows, prints, promo work, music videos and featured car shows. I was one of the original Toronto Dymes featured in their calendar. I also had my own Satellite TV show for about 2 years called "The E Show with Pegah Donna". It was crazy, People started to recognize me in the streets and follow what I was doing. I enjoyed it a lot but felt like I was missing something so I stopped once again this time to figure out what I was missing and to take a break.

What did you during that period when you stopped your TV show?

I went back to school doing event management and opened my own event planning business specializing mostly in weddings. I started to follow my heart by getting involved with helping animals and people in need...I started to study with some great acting coaches and got back in the game again. I was doing a part-time Persian TV show on Rogers TV called "Persian Magazine" and started to co-host a radio show called "The Confunksion show." I was the only female on the show at the time working with some amazing known DJs and hosts. My radio personality alias was "Princess" and that was given to me by the listeners, votes, and the other radio hosts.

Building Her Empire in Heart of City of Toronto

After time, my schedule started to get busy with my event planning business, combined with modeling. Unfortunately at the same time, I was losing one of my best friends to cancer so I took some time off and stopped doing the show. A lot of callers thought something bad had happened to me but it was just timing. My radio team had always told me to come back when I felt ready but unfortunately I haven't had the chance (yet).

As my event planning business started to grow and become more successful I continued with modeling, doing ads, promos, shows...this time I was doing local plays too. I was approached by someone in 2010 to get involved in a very small pageant; I did it and earned second place. Once again,I was approached while out one time to do one of the Miss Hooters bikini pageants where I placed 3rd place runner up. I wanted to continue with pageants and get into fitness shows but I wasn't sure how to go about it myself....during that time, I was requested and featured as the Sunshine Girl a few times followed by being selected for their calendar. One of my social media fans messaged me and suggested that I should go for Miss Exotica 2014 - I did and placed 1st runner up.

Photo credits: Billy Archos

I completely felt blessed and enjoyed every moment but wasn’t sure if I was going to do another one. Then I was suggested by a photographer friend to enter Miss Honda Indys, I looked it up, decided to do the competition and placed 2nd runner up. Therafter, I competed for Miss Chin and Miss Carribean Canada bikini competitions in 2015 and placed 2nd runner up for both...I was so happy double winning...it was then that I knew I wanted to continue working with pageants but I couldn't do any others till my crowning was over in 2016 with Miss Caribbean Canada but ended up doing one local one for Miss Active Toronto where I was crowned 1st place....doing all the different pageants lead to Ms. CTC Pageant in which I was crowned for the 2017 Ms. Canada's Top Choice Queen...I was over the moon. I'm still happily reigning till August 4th, 2018 where I will be crowning the new contestants at the famous Fairview Theater.

When did you start getting involved in pageant shows? I stared in 2010

Who inspired you to enter pageant?

To be honest, I've always been modeling but getting involved in pageants started by someone approaching me and I fell in love with continuing to get involved in them.

What is your go to fashion tips as a beauty pageant?

My go-to tip is definitely shiny lips along with a big smile. I also love long, flowing dresses with great sexy heels.

Photo credits: White Swim wear by Jack Boland

What is(are) your favourite (s) pageant experience(s) and why?

Meeting so many amazing strong women, making some forever friends who share the same passion, and having my family there is so special to me. Getting involved with the community, helping with great causes and doing fundraisers are always great rewarding experiences.

Photo credits: by Billy Archos

You’ve been crowned multiple time as Beauty Queen congratulation on that. What have you gained the most from these entire experiences?

Thank you so much. I've gained so many beautiful experiences. Being more understanding of myself and growing and becoming a strong woman, how to carry myself, how to speak in public in front of a crowd, and now not to judge other women but to love and respect them regardless of being in a competition. I started to see other women as sisters rather than competitors. As confident as I've always been, pageants have boosted my confidence even higher. I am comfortable with criticism about me and being judged.

Images from Pegah Donna Pageant shows

For a girl who is interested in entering a pageant, what advice will your give her?

This might sound so cliche but it's the truth...be yourself...you're the best you that can be and no one can beat that. Don't try to figure out what the judges want and like because that will end in disaster and they will know you're not being yourself. Do your best and just be yourself. Don't worry about how the other girls are going to be because you will never have that answer 100% so don't worry about it. Also when it comes to answering the questions, be honest and real. Be good to the other girls and don't get involved in any drama or gossip.Think positive and smile the whole time. You will shine.

You are also activist, can you tell us little bit about your humantiaer platform? How can someone join it to support the cost?

Yes I am and I believe that we're here with a purpose: to find our own path.

As I had mentioned earlier, acting and modeling are 2 of the things I'm passionate about but helping other people and animals are also equally important to me. I had always been involved in helping different causes and since an early age, I knew this was my calling.

In 2013, I became a vegan and started an organization called "Snow Angels" where we help homeless and unfortunate individuals as well as animals in need. We provide them with food, clothes, and rescue and shelter information. My organization reaches out to those in need at all times, especially in cold months of the year where it's harder for people and animals to get help and donations. That's where the name "Snow Angels" stem from. We go out in cold, rain or snow to help those in need.

We always welcome blankets, clothing, and vegetarian only canned/packaged goods, cat and dog food, cat/dog leashes and beds, and toys. I've never taken any money donations and have always spent my own to purchase anything that has been needed but I'm open to monetary donations as well.

I can be contacted through any of my social media accounts or website at www.snowangelsgive.com

Recently you have been crowned as Ms Canada’s Top Choice 2017, can you tell us about the crowning moment?

It truly was a blessing. At first, I received the " Ms. Congeniality" award and I was so humbled and happy because it meant so much to me. When it came to selecting the winner after all the runner ups were called, I was just so happy to see them get crowned that I wasn't even thinking about myself. When they called my name as the winner, I was in shock. I froze for a second and didn't know what to do. I wanted to cry but kept telling myself ‘’don't do it, don't cry.” I felt like Jello - I covered my face and then turned looking at my family and just choked up. It was so amazing and I'm so thankful for it. I let all my pageant sisters know how amazing they were and how much I respected them all. We were all hugging and I was so proud of them all. It was a great moment!

On August 4th, Canada’s Top Choice will be hosting their annual pageant show. What advice will you give these new contestants to prepare themselves for winning the crown?

For them to continue being themselves and to come with an open mind. Winning or losing doesn't make you who you are. Take everything as a great experience and to grow better. Be confident and bring your best and positive attitude to the pageant. Don't judge or start any type of drama. It doesn't matter if it's your 1st or 10th time, all of you are going through the same thing. You just gotta do your best.

Who are other talented designers or stylist you would hope to collaborate with?

I'm open to working with different and talented designers/stylists. There are so many local fabulous designers that I would like to collaborate with but one of the designers I support and respect is Stella McCartney. I would love it if she made a dress for me. I also love Versace and Cavalli cruelty-free dresses.

What can we expect from you in the next 2 years or so?

In the next 2 years, you will definitely see me acting more. I'm going to be working on a couple of upcoming TV projects that I'm excited about. I'm currently studying with a new acting coach and it's going great. I will be studying with him for a while. I love acting and by then I definitely see myself on TV more. I have my YouTube channel full of fun stuff launching soon. You will still see me modeling and also completing my last pageant. I'm also getting together with some local artists and designers to shoot some special themed shots.I'm hoping to be closer to opening my rescue shelter for homeless and rescued animals by then. Snow Angels will have grown even bigger with all the volunteers and our ability to help people and animals in need. I would like to work and help other women follow their dreams as well. I'm in the process of putting a women's group together and there will be some upcoming events. There's so much happening, please stay tuned.

From little girl dream, she turn to be a woman with vision. We are glad to have you on our weekly feature. This is indeed has been great interview. We wish you all the best!