About
International Speaker and Miss World Canada 2012 - a voice for justice, freedom and mercy worldwide.
Biography
Tara Teng is a human rights activist and a modern-day slavery abolitionist. Her heartbeat and passion is to see all people, regardless of nationality, culture, gender, lifestyle or belief, thrive in freedom, truth and abundance. Raised on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Tara stands as a voice for justice, love and mercy worldwide.
In 2009, Tara helped launch the “Undies for Africa” Campaign that protects women from rape in Zambia and in 2011 started the “Send Love” Campaign that unites North American children with racially oppressed Dalit children in India. She has taught in classrooms throughout Canada and Guatemala, served children in the project buildings of Brooklyn, NYC, and regularly spends time with the homeless of the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, BC.
In July 2010, Tara was crowned Miss British Columbia 2010-2011 and has been using her title to empower others. Tara works tirelessly to raise awareness on issues of social justice and maintains a focus on ending exploitation of children and women internationally. Recently she spent time working alongside politicians, musicians and advocates to lead Freedom Week: March 6-13, 2011, an awareness campaign of events that spoke out against the violence and exploitation of human trafficking.
Partnering with many charities, Tara is a champion for the Dalit Freedom Network, the International Justice Mission and Traffic Jam, speaking out against racial oppression, gender inequality, modern day slavery and social injustice. In November 2010, Tara was nominated as one of the Globe and Mail’s Top 25 Most Transformational Canadians due to her extensive advocacy work.
In January 2011, Tara was crowned as Miss Canada and is continuing to use her platform to amplify the voice of the marginalized. In June 2011, Tara traveled to Thailand and Cambodia to partner with anti-human trafficking organizations in the red light districts of major cities and slums of rural villages, offering hope to women and children living or rescued from forced sexual exploitation.
In August and September 2011, Tara took the message of freedom on the road as the keynote speaker for the Ignite the Road to Justice Canada Tour, visiting 10 cities across the country, connecting communities and mobilizing a network to fight for justice. Adding to the movement, the 2011 Canadian “Women of the Year” awards have recognized Tara for her leadership and named her one of the “Hot 20 Under 30” in the country.
In early 2012, Tara was nominated for the YWCA Women of Distinction in the “Young Woman of Distinction” and “Connecting the Community” categories. She was also nominated as one of Vancouver’s Women of Worth for her continued efforts to empower women and end human trafficking.
Most recently, Tara was crowned Miss World Canada 2012, an Ambassador organization that works on empowering women to help build lifelong skills in key areas which in turn will open their doors to the future. The pageant stresses the equal importance of inner and outer beauty, as well as, pioneering a year-round leadership development program full of opportunities at an international level. Miss World Canada also raises funs for Variety- the Children’s Charity, enriching the lives of children living with special needs.
Currently, Tara is living back in her hometown of Langley, BC after living in the nation’s capital of Ottawa and working on Parliament Hill. In her spare time she can be found rock-climbing, swing-dancing, writing or visiting the belugas at the Vancouver Aquarium. Every day is a new adventure!
