Zodiac Sign: Leo

Pets: None…but I would really like a dog.

Favourite Artist: This is so difficult…there are way too many to choose from; however, recently I’ve really been into the oldies I love Billie Holiday, Nina Simone & good ‘ol Ella. Anything by Jack Johnson is a guaranteed get-me-upper as well as anything by home grown Danny Michel. But this is jus the tip of the iceberg; I listen to just about anything!

Lara keeps the crowd involved at every Raptors home game. (Ron Turenne)

Favourite Book: I love to read, however, after backpacking Europe my favourite read was our Rick Steve’s travel guides. The greatest travel guides ever!

Favourite Movie: I have to go with Little Miss Sunshine, the 50’s classic Singin’ in the Rain and anything with Johnny Depp.

Fav. Song: My Funny Valentine (by any artist, even when Matt Damon performed it in The Talented Mr. Ripley), Island in the Sun (Weezer) and Sexi Plexi (Jack Johnson).

Three people I’d like to have dinner with: I thought hard about this and I’m assuming that my guests could be deceased (that’s what makes this question interesting), I’m not sure if I’d have dinner with them all together (it may be awkward) and I’d have to be able to speak in other languages. So, here are my three choices: My grandmother (my mum's side, whom I never met), actor & dancer Gene Kelly and the man himself JC (that’s Jesus Christ).

Favourite Food: You can’t ask me this question, I love to eat! But if I have to choose I’d say that since I come from a Filipino/Ukrainian background I love my mum's pancet (chicken/veggie stir fry) and my baba’s vareneke (perogies) and borsch (beet soup). Pretty much anything homemade I absolutely LOVE!

Favourite Dessert: This is my favourite meal (if you consider dessert a meal). I consider myself quite the dessert connoisseur, so when asked this question I have a definite answer. While in Florence, Italy we stumbled across this little family run restaurant I'Cche Ce Ce (translates to ‘What is, is!’) which serves the most delectable homemade chocolate soufflé with strawberries…to absolutely die for! Needless to say I have found nothing even comparable to it…I guess I’ll just have to go back!

Favourite Clothing store: I’m the diva on a dime, I love fashion but won’t throw down my life’s saving to have it. My favorite clothing stores are H&M and Zara.

Favourite Designer: Since getting engaged all my focus has been on planning a wedding which also means purchasing a wedding gown, so right now my favorite designer is Melissa Sweet.

Favourite All-time Raptor: That’s easy, Jerome “the Junkyard Dog” Williams – insert resonating bark here -

Favourite Thing about Raptor games: I get to see every single game live. I get such a thrill when I’m there sharing in the excitement with 20 000 fans. Nothing beats that!

Favourite Raptor contest: I get the biggest kicks watching dizzy bat races (baseball bat on the forehead, spin around 10 times then sink a lay-up) so funny to watch and every Friday when we bring out the beach balls for Super 7’s Beach Ball Bonanza, the look on that one fans face when I’m handing them $700 cash is priceless. But my absolute favourite is when I’m there partaking in a big contest where a lucky fan may go home with a car or a load of cash, I get so excited!

Words to live by: “Life is like a box of chocolate, ya never know what yo gonna git.” – Forrest Gump (I know you all read that with a ‘Gump’ accent)

Favourite Raptor memory: I have so many from starting as a member on the Raptors Dance Pak and now the Raptors in-arena host… I don’t know if I’d consider this my most favourite memory but it’s definitely a memorable moment. There I am at my very fist game hosting and it’s time for the classic game Card Sharks. I thought everything was going good until midway through the contest I managed to get the entire ACC to ‘boo’ I then realized that I had mistakenly told the contestant that he had lost when really he had won. It must have been a combination of nerves and excitement that I was clearly not paying enough attention. Needless to say after that game everyone knew who I was!