We had the amazing opportunity to chat with Mr. World Canada 2012, Musician, and Miss World Host Frankie Cena. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Frankie! Thank you for granting the interview. Your career is soaring and we’re excited to speak with you about. You’re best known for being crowned Mr. World Canada 2012. What do you enjoy most about your career?
It would definitely be the variety! I studied human resources at UBC and I learned about what makes the perfect job, things, like being recognized, being well paid, doing something meaningful, and having variety, were all on the top of the list. In a week, I might be coaching in Vancouver, managing my business from an airplane, filming a TV show in London, or hosting Miss World in China. The variety is amazing and keeps me excited and motivated.
What inspired you to choose your current career?
I think that life needs to inspire us. What I mean by that is I don’t have one singular source of inspiration, one event or one person. But rather my inspiration comes from a culmination of various life events that have led me to where I am today. Enjoying the spotlight led me to become a public speaker, which led me to become a debater which led me to coaching which led me to own my own speech and debate school. Being an entertainer led me to become Mr. Canada which led me to host Miss World. I let the events in my life inspire me.
Let’s talk about the importance of branding yourself. What advice can you share with aspiring talent?
I struggled with branding for a long time and I still don’t think this is something I have down. As someone that does so many different things, it’s very difficult to communicate my brand in a clear and concise way. But what I have learned is that I need to know my character and know what matters to me, so long as I know those things, I can carry them through in the way I present myself in person, on social media, and on TV. My advice would is know yourself well, jot down your key points, and try to convey that to the world.
What has been your biggest challenge in the industry?
To be honest, I think my height has sadly been a barrier. I would like to say that we live in a world where appearances don’t matter, but the fact is, a leading man tends to be tall. I know during my first Miss World it was difficult to interview the contestants as they soared above me. But like all challenges, I turned this into a strength, I made being short a part of my personal brand and I embraced my height rather than shying away from it.
What’s the ultimate direction of your career?
You should ALWAYS have BIG and SCARY goals. But you should also have goals that are just out of reach and goals that you can accomplish. We need to set ourselves up for success psychologically. This means celebrating big and small wins. If you fixate on one thing, like being famous or having a record deal and you only assess your success based on that one thing, you will be unhappy. So make goals of different sizes. My ultimate goal is to have my name alongside Oprah, Ellen, and Ryan Seacrest – These people aren’t talking show hosts, they are legends, they are brands, they are influencers. I would like to be able to combine my talents and careers similar to theirs. A more short-term goal would be to host a television program.
Tell us about your current projects.
I just finished filming a TV show for the BBC in the UK! Unfortunately, I can’t reveal the name yet, but all will be revealed in December. I am heading back to Miss World to host the competition in Sanya, China. My speech and debate academy – Fostering Debate Talent has just opened up its first space in Vancouver. So life is VERY busy.
If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose this career? Would you do anything differently?
Of course! 100 times over! I live my life with no regrets; this is the path I am meant to be on because it is the path that I am on. If you believe in God or in a higher power you know that you are on the path meant for you. If you don’t believe in those things, then take control of your own life and make choices that speak to your heart and mind.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Thank you for reading! You can find more of what I am up to by visiting my website and following me on my social media channels!
Connect with Frankie:
Web: www.frankiecena.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/frankiecena
Instagram: www.instagram.com/frankiecena
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