Alysha Ortiz is a Canadian real estate agent, nurse, model and beauty queen from Chestermere , Alberta. She has competed in local and international beauty pageants, including Miss Universe Canada, where she was awarded the 2019 People’s Choice Award.
Early life
Ortiz was born in Calgary, Alberta to her mother from Fiji and father from El Salvador. She is able to speak English, Hindi, and Spanish. She eventually moved from Calgary to Chestermere (part of the Calgary Metropolitan Region). She graduated Mount Royal University (MRU) with a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree.
Pageantry
Ortiz competed in the Miss Sun and Salsa pageant on July 25, 2010. The pageant, organized by Lisa Harrigan, was a regular part of the Sun and Salsa Festival, held annually in the Kensington community of Calgary. Ortiz later entered the Miss Teen Calgary 2011 pageant, which she won. She later entered and won the Miss Earth Alberta title for 2012. After a break from pageants for several years, she entered the race for Miss Universe Canada 2019. Although she did not win the main title, she was a top 20 finalist, and won the People’s Choice Award, based on voting by the general public.
Ortiz was named International Queen of Coffee Canada 2019, allowing her to compete at the Reinado Internacional del Café competition (International Queen of Coffee) held annually in Manizales, Colombia as part of the Feria de Manizales, the local fair. As part of the competition, each candidate is required to make a coffee recipe featuring a ingredient from their home country, that can be found in Columbia.
Career
After graduating MRU, Ortiz worked as a Registered Nurse in a Calgary hospital.
Ortiz has also worked as a model and actress. She appeared as a silent cast member in a Punjabi language music video by Manni D. She also appeared in a speaking role in a music video by Bewafa.
Ortiz obtained a real estate license in 2020. She became a REMAX agent, serving Calgary and Chestermere. For her realty work, she goes by @realtywithalysha on Instagram.
Photo notes
I took the photos on this page at two events in Calgary. I first saw her at the the Miss Sun and Salsa pageant on July 25, 2010. I later captured her image at the First Street Fashion show on September 12 of the same year.
© 2021 Robert Thivierge