Well Mustangs, it’s happening again. One of our own, Nicole McFadden, is following in the footsteps of Western alumni Liz Trinnear and is vying to be the next MuchMusic VJ. Nicole is from the tiny little town of St. Joachim Ontario. At 22 years old, Nicole is in her fourth year at Western in a collaborative program with Fanshawe College where she takes both MIT classes at Western, and practical classes at Fanshawe where her class runs the radio station 106.9 The X.
Working at 106.9, Nicole is never out of things to do with the three rotations her class goes through each semester. She’s either reporting on issues happening in London, creating both audio and visual documentaries and talk shows, or news casting every hour. “News casting is my favourite rotation!” Nicole says. “It’s fun having people message you to say they heard you on the radio.” On top of all this, she’s also required to submit one story per day on this rotation. Besides the heavy workload, Nicole has had great opportunities working with 106.9, including interviewing a producer of “Dragon’s Den,” a Western alumni who has written for “Family Guy”, and most recently a Holocaust survivor. “The best thing about this job is that you meet normal people every day that have crazy cool stories to tell! You never know someone until you sit down with them for 10 minutes and truly ask them about themselves.”
When she’s not busy with her schoolwork and reporting, Nicole loves playing soccer, heading to The Ceeps with her 4 close friends and roommates, and seeing Rick McGee at the Spoke. When she’s feeling, as she calls it, “less productive,” Nicole enjoys watching Dexter, Shameless, Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. She likes to rock a casual look most of the time, and is really into the “Urban Outfitters hipster” style, sporting plaid shirts, leggings, and a lot of denim. “I’ve spent 22 years perfecting the ‘just rolled out of bed’ look!”
Nicole believes that she would be the ideal MuchMusic VJ because not only does she have the training perfected by her university program, but she also has a bug for pop-culture that she believes any MIT student can relate to, as well as a stellar sense of humor. She jokes,“I already have my own microphone, what more could I need?” Nicole says that any chance she gets interviewing people and being in front of the camera will benefit her budding career in the media and entertainment business. “If I were to make it to the next round [of the MMVJ search], I see them putting us in some pretty intense situations and making us answer some pretty in-depth questions about ourselves and pop culture.” This seemingly daunting task may be intimidating for some, but not for challenge-oriented Nicole. “To me, any experience is good experience.”
Nicole’s dream interview would be with none other than Lady Gaga. “That woman is crazy!” she exclaims. “She’s created this following of people that is just unbelievable.” Nicole would love to ask Gaga how she gets her “little monsters” to follow her so passionately and indubitably. “If everyone on earth had Gaga superpowers, the world would be a very different place.”
With her positive, infectious personality, killer sense of humor, and compassionate demeanor, it’s a no-brainer that Nicole belongs in front of the camera. Nicole’s younger sister Allison also had some positive things to say about her older sibling, “Nicole is one of the greatest people I know”, Allison says. “She taught me that the only person I should ever want to be is myself and she always led through example. She is always herself – awesome – and she’s always had the confidence, grace and determination to follow her dreams and excel at whatever she does. She will not disappoint.”
To vote for Nicole to bring her that much closer to becoming your next MuchMusic VJ, as well as to watch her video to get to know her even more, visit her page at http://www.muchmusic.com/vjsearch/profile/nicole-mcfadden/335663/. You can vote every day until March 11th, when the top 40 entry videos are being chosen. Also, follow her on twitter @nicolemcfadds
HC Quiz:
Celebrity Crush: Taylor Lautner, Channing Tatum, Jonathan Taylor Thomas (ohhhhhhhh yeahhh baby)… the list goes on.
Dream Job: VJ of course!
Guilty Pleasure: Chocolate. Sooo much chocolate…
Pet Peeves: People who fidget when they sit!
I am terrified of: Roller Coasters… I started to sweat just answering this question.
People who know me really well know that: I will never turn down dessert!
One thing you want to do before graduating: Get one last CLT
If you could have one super power, what would it be: Definitely flying. I’d fly to sunny places all the time!
If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be and why?: This one is tough. I’d like to meet so many people! One of them might be Miley Cyrus? I’d ask her if people treat her differently since she cut her hair.
Favourites:
Show: Dexter …As far as the MuchMusic show I would most like to be in, the MuchMusic VJ Search obviously! And then from there, New.Music.Live
Movie: Space Jam
Band/Singer: So many! Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, really into Bon Iver and the Weeknd right now!
Food: Birthday Cake fo sho!
Off Campus Location: The Bungalow in London! SUCH good sandwiches.
On Campus Location: The Spoke – Spoke bagels ftw! Spinach Mushroom with feta cream cheese… hubba hubba!