Kara Westlake is a confident and passionate 19-year-old currently pursuing a double major in Forensic Science and Criminology at the University of Windsor. A dedicated student and athlete, Kara is also a proud member of the university’s cheerleading team. With dreams of becoming a firefighter, she is committed to staying active and pushing both her physical and mental limits.

Kara began playing hockey at the age of five and quickly fell in love with the game. As one of the only girls in her league, she learned early how to break barriers—lessons that took her all the way to Team Ontario training camp, captain of her high school team, and an opportunity to play NCAA Division I hockey in Boston, MA. After a year in the U.S., Kara returned to Canada, where changes in athletic eligibility rules forced her to retire from competitive hockey. Rather than letting that setback define her, she saw it as an opportunity to explore new passions—including pageantry. In the summer of 2024, Kara entered her first pageant and proudly placed 2nd runner-up, proving once again that strength shines brightest outside of comfort zones.

Kara’s platform is rooted in empowering young female athletes both mentally and physically. She advocates for pushing past societal expectations, breaking through stereotypes, and not letting social media or public perception dictate your worth or path. Drawing on her own journey in male-dominated sports and performance spaces, Kara inspires others to redefine what it means to be strong, feminine, and fearless.

As a trained Jack.org advocate, Kara proudly supports Canada’s only youth-led charity focused on mental health. Through programs like Jack Talks, Jack Chapters, and the Be There resource, Jack.org empowers young people to lead mental health conversations and build communities where wellness comes first. In her senior year of high school Kara helped lead a Jack chapter about smashing the stigma of mental health, each grade assigned with paints, smashed the paint on canvases to show how beautiful breaking stereotypes can be. Kara continues to use her voice to encourage authenticity, vulnerability, and growth—on and off the field.