Karen Elizabeth Tilley

Tilley was born in Quebec City, Quebec, and later moved to Calgary, Alberta and represented this province in the Miss Canada competition.^[1] Tilley's hobbies include cooking, travelling, dancing and hiking. When she won the national competition, she earned $76,937.80 (Canadian Dollars) in cash and prizes, including a $12,000 car, a $6,000 fur coat and a $1,500 scholarship.^[2]

In the following year, after her win as Miss Canada, Tilley was based in Toronto where she participated in promotional events for sponsors, whose presence was paid for by companies on a 'per-appearance basis',^[3] and traveled to different places in Canada.^[4] She described her appearances as public relations, a career she intended to follow after her year as Miss Canada.^[5][6]

Tilley represented Canada in the 1985 Miss Universe competition and was one of ten semifinalists when Deborah Carthy-Deu was crowned as Miss Universe.^[7]