Giselle Drew Walsh, 35 year old female, married and mom of 3 (2 daughters 12 & 8, and 1 son 10 months). Passionate advocate for Veterans mental health, and their families. Inspired and motivated by her father who was a reg force Infantry soldier, Giselle saw first hand how devastating PTSD can be for a veteran, and their family, to navigate, especially when there are limited resources. This spurred Giselle to start speaking about PTSD and a resilient mindset, organize events for charities who support veterans, start her podcast “Breaking Dress Regs” and eventually led her to the decision to enter the pageant system in order to reach a broader audience. In becoming Mrs. Canada Universe, Giselle has dedicated herself to using her platform to highlight the rich history of Canada’s military, and the sacrifice of its soldiers. Taking a completely different approach on the traditional, and typically expected, National Costume for Canada, Giselle has designed and is creating a National Costume to represent Canada’s veterans and its military history. Many veterans from across Canada have joined Giselle in handcrafting poppies to be stitched onto the train of the gown making this national costume one that truly represents and pays respect to Canada’s veterans. Giselle is the first trade-qualified Canadian veteran to win a national pageant title and the first Canadian veteran in the Mrs. Universe system. Having been trained as an Infanteer her entire career, she demonstrates how women can indeed challenge themselves, be strong just like their male counterparts, but also be vulnerable and embrace their feminine qualities. ABOUT GISELLE
Giselle Drew Walsh, 35 year old female, married and mom of 3 (2 daughters 12 & 8, and 1 son 10 months). Passionate advocate for Veterans mental health, and their families. Inspired and motivated by her father who was a reg force Infantry soldier, Giselle saw first hand how devastating PTSD can be for a veteran, and their family, to navigate, especially when there are limited resources. This spurred Giselle to start speaking about PTSD and a resilient mindset, organize events for charities who support veterans, start her podcast “Breaking Dress Regs” and eventually led her to the decision to enter the pageant system in order to reach a broader audience.
 
In becoming Mrs. Canada Universe, Giselle has dedicated herself to using her platform to highlight the rich history of Canada’s military, and the sacrifice of its soldiers. Taking a completely different approach on the traditional, and typically expected, National Costume for Canada, Giselle has designed and is creating a National Costume to represent Canada’s veterans and its military history. Many veterans from across Canada have joined Giselle in handcrafting poppies to be stitched onto the train of the gown making this national costume one that truly represents and pays respect to Canada’s veterans.
 
Giselle is the first trade-qualified Canadian veteran to win a national pageant title and the first Canadian veteran in the Mrs. Universe system. Having been trained as an Infanteer her entire career, she demonstrates how women can indeed challenge themselves, be strong just like their male counterparts, but also be vulnerable and embrace their feminine qualities.
 

Work & Volunteer:

  • Full time Infantry Reserves (Class B), retiring 15 August 2024 after joining January 2008
  • Board member/Secretary of Valour in the Presence of the Enemy NPO
  • Host of Breaking Dress Regs podcast
  • Event Coordinator for Combined Forces NPO (Mission: Afghanistan museum exhibit & Fallen Heroes: Their journey home documentary)
  • Public Speaker
  • Self funded volunteer trip to Rwanda 2011. Worked within the role of a medic, giving talks (with the help of a translator) about safe sex, HIV and AIDS, drawing and testing blood, administered first aid, and assisted with pre and postnatal care.
  • Jr Ranks Mess President 2019 – 2023
Awards/Nominations/Commendations:
  • Minister of Veterans Affairs commendation
  • Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
  • Brigade Sergeant Major Coin
  • Army Commander Commendation (informed by my chain of command that I earned this for all the continuous instructing I did throughout Covid, however, the Army Commander went to Denison armoury instead of Jefferson so I never got my coin.)
  • CD (Canadian Forces Decoration service medal) for 12 years service
  • 2024 Global Recognition Award
  • 2024 Women of Inspiration Award Nominee
  • Mrs Edmonton Globe 2023/2024 (came in 2nd runner up for Mrs. Canada Globe, just 6 weeks after having had my son.) 
  • Mrs Canada (Continental Worldwide pageant in Utah. Smaller pageant, I was their only outside USA delegate. It was a named title, not an awarded one.)
  • Mrs. Canada Universe (awarded title after being a Mrs Canada finalist.) 
 
Social Media & Links

Instagram – @mrs_canada_universe & @breakingdressregs

www.linkedin.com/in/giselledrew

Facebook – Giselle Aliesje & Breaking Dress Regs 

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