‘Beautiful’: Vigil honours life of Shilan Shahbazian

Friends and customers gathered to remember Shilan Shahbazian at her former workplace on Tuesday night.

Inside Kim’s Nails and Spa, people recalled stories and interactions from their time spent with the 26-year-old.

“She was strikingly beautiful to look at,” Jenifer Ducharme, a Kim’s Nails customer told CTV News.

“She was hilarious, she was more beautiful inside than out. She was the whole package.”

Originally form Iran, Shahbazian moved to Canada for a better life, where she could work while obtaining an education.

In their first interactions, Ducharme said Shahbazian was often quiet due to a language barrier.

Over time, the two began using Google Translate or hand gestures to better communicate.

“She often talked about her family and friends back home,” Ducharme said.

After going missing for more than two months, on March 21, Windsor police announced they had located Shahbazian’s body.

Police noted they did not suspect foul play in her death.

Like many customers, Ducharme said the discovery provides little closure given Shahbazian’s many “plans” and often discussed goals.

“Breaks my heart, it’s like I said she was just flourishing, she was just finally coming out of her shell, and she just seemed like she had so much to look forward to,” she said.

Kim’s Nails previously held a vigil for their staff member and friend in January, nearly two weeks after her disappearance.

At the time, they hoped Shahbazian could still be out there and well.

Kim Lam, the shop’s owner, told CTV News after a month she began to prepare herself for the worst.

Even after learning the news, she said she struggles to “accept” it given Shahbazian’s upbeat demeanour.

“When you see her it’s always happy. Even when she’s sad, she still smiles,” Lam said.

Following a phone conversation with the Shahbazian’s uncle on Tuesday, Lam said they were unsure whether her body would be returned home.

Due to the legal process, the family is still inquiring if it is feasible to have Shilan returned home.

In the event the governments sign off on the process, Lam said she will not hesitate to offer the community’s support both financially and emotionally.

“If the family asks us to help, to bring her body back home, that’s what I can do right now,” Lam said.

“I’m waiting for the family to say something, and we’ll step in.”