Every other Thursday I profile a new incredible woman, each from a different walk of life. Different professions, causes, backgrounds, ethnicities, orientations, and anything/everything else!

So without further delay, let me introduce the wonderful Kristin Peres…

Custom cake creator Kristin Peres doesn’t make your ordinary cake. Want a Porsche cake? Sure, Kristin can make it. Want a Wii cake? Why not, Kristin can handle it. Want a cake shaped like a Storm-Trooper’s helmet? No problem. Actually, you can see a pic of one below!

Owner of Cake or Death Kristin was taught by experts and has been perfecting her craft for over five years. Inspired by music, pop culture, and great cake designers, Kristin takes pride in the detail of her work and loves achieving a creative twist on traditional cake ideas. She can literally make you the cake of your dreams – whatever that dream may be!

What drives you to do what you do?

A burning desire to not go back to a technology job. No, really. Last summer I was laid off by the US company I worked for after working in training and engineering for seven years. I also happened to be five months pregnant at the time. I had been creating cakes as a hobby for several years. After being relieved of my day job while in a relatively un-hirable state, I had the perfect opportunity to give myself a chance at becoming a full-time cake artist. I haven’t looked back for a moment.

How does being a woman empower / challenge you?

I feel sometimes that I am challenged by my emotions as a woman. I have to constantly be aware that I am not only creating edible art, but also running and building a business. I fall in love with each piece that I create and I feel that everyone deserves a beautiful cake, but I also have to fight the urge to give away my hard work. On the other hand, I feel that being a woman gives me an inner quiet and patience to love what I do and my love of my work gives me the drive to succeed at it.

What advice would you give to young women who want to follow in your footsteps?

Don’t waste time being afraid. Just go for it! I spent far too long in a job I didn’t love because I thought I couldn’t do this for a living. I have learned that you can make anything work if you want it bad enough. It sounds cliché, but it’s true: Do what you love, love what you do.

Name one person, place, or thing every young woman should know about?

Yourself. Spend time, money, travel, whatever it takes to really learn about who you are and who you want to be. Owning that will be the best gift you could ever give yourself.

What is the most important thing we can do in order to change the world?

I think we all have to be, and raise, avid learners. The more we learn about the world and people around us, the more tolerant we may become. Fear and ignorance are the breeding ground for hatred. I think the future of our world and species depend on the masses arming themselves with knowledge instead of depending on a chosen few to make decisions for us.

Make sure to check out all of Kristin’s awesome cakes on her site www.cakeordeath.ca. And if you’re looking for an amazing custom cake in the Greater Toronto area, be sure to contact Kristin!