30 Latinas Showcase Their Beauty and Brains During Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina Pageants

Thirty Latinas from around the United States will compete to be crowned Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina during the 2009 National Pageant Finals taking place in San Antonio for the first time. Representing their respective states and national heritage groups, the pageant delegates will arrive Friday, September 26 for preliminary competitions and activities, culminating on Sunday, September 28 with their presentations in national heritage dress, swimsuit, fashion wear and evening gown at the Jo Long Theater for the Performing Arts.

San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) September 20, 2008 -- Thirty Latinas from around the United States will compete for scholarship money, prizes and the chance of a lifetime to be crowned Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina during the 2009 Miss Latina US Pageant from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Jo Long Theatre for the Performing Arts, 226 N. Hackberry.

Miss Latina US is the first national competition established in the country in 1983 exclusively for Latinas. It continues to be the only one whose winner advances to a world competition - the Miss Latin America of the World pageant hosted annually in different Latin American countries.

Nineteen women, ages 18 to 27, will compete in the Miss Latina US Pageant. In the Miss Teen US Latina Pageant, 11 teenagers, ages 14 to 17, will participate.

"The titleholder of the Miss Latina US pageant will represent the United States on a global stage in the Miss Latin America of the World pageant, so the parameters are high," said Acirema Ayaleto, president and founder of Organización Miss America Latina Inc. "These pageants are awakening the country to what we've known all along, that Latinos have made significant contributions to the United States, that we are successful, talented and hard-working people, and our culture offers so much to society."

Miss Latina US 2008 Fatima Leonardo of Rhode Island and Miss Teen US Latina 2007 Nicole Korrody of San Antonio will crown their respective successors. Former Miss Latin America of the World Melissa Quesada, now a practicing attorney in New York, will host the pageant.

Tickets are $15 and $10. Call (210) 377-0033. For more information, visit www.missamericalatina.com.

Miami-based Organización Miss America Latina Inc. produces the Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina national pageants, as well as the Miss Latin America of the World international pageant. Over the years, the Miss Latina US Pageant has been hosted by various Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Dominican Republic and Mexico.

In 2006, the Miss Latina US pageant was brought back to the United States, when it was held in Massachusetts. San Antonio will host the pageant this year.

"We thought San Antonio would be the perfect city to have the pageant because San Antonio loves its queens and pageantry, as they do during Fiesta," Ayaleto said, "and the Alamo City is well known for its rich Latin culture and heritage."    

Sponsors include Macy's, Míamariú, The Unlimited, Spring Garden Flower Shop, Azteca America, San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Lenscap Studio, aMAEzing Marketing & Special Events, Aldaco's, Panchito's, Freddy's Frozen Custard, Palomita, International Academy of Design & Technology, and Gayle Gaston & Co.

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