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(Press release) Diana Franca of Salt Lake City was crowned Miss Latina U.S. 2009 while Marissa Castro of El Paso took home the title of Miss Teen US Latina on the same stage in San Antonio, Texas recently.
The 19-year-old Diana becomes the first woman of Brazilian heritage to win the national title in the history of this U.S. Pageant. She will now represent the USA in Latin America at the international finals with other Latinas from North, South and Central America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Thirty Latinas from across the U.S. and ranging in age from 15 to 26 years competed for the chance of a lifetime to become Miss Latina U.S. and Miss Teen U.S. Latina at the annual national pageant held for the first time in Texas. Miss Latina U.S. 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.
The pageant show opened with the 11 teen contestants and Miss Teen U.S. Latina 2007-08 Nicole Korrody performing a lively mambo choreographed by San Antonian Olga Valenciana, this year's pageant choreographer.
Local talents Priscilla Garcia and Krystal Diaz provided the musical entertainment with beautiful song renditions and an exciting flamenco dance performance, respectively. Former Miss Latin America of the World Melissa Quesada, now a practicing attorney in New York, co-hosted the pageant alongside Gilbert Casillas of Azteca America.
Miss Utah Latina Diana Franca bested 18 other delegates to win the right to represent the Latino population in this country at the 2009 international finals held annually abroad. She will compete among delegates from countries in Central, North and South America, the Caribbean and Europe. Diana was crowned by her predecessor Fatima Leonardo from Rhode Island at the Jo Long Theater for the Performing Arts in San Antonio.
Johanna Sambucinni, 21, of New York and Dominican/Italian heritage was chosen 1st runner-up. The remaining finalists, in order, were Sasha Zacarias, 19, of Rhode Island (Dominican), Valerie Velazquez, 23, of Texas (Mexican/Italian) and Nancy Pelayo, 26, of California (Mexican/Spaniard). Helen Araoz, 26, representing her Bolivian heritage, received the "President's Award for Outstanding Achievement and Academic Excellence."
Miss Tennessee Latina Mariela Flores, 21, was awarded "Best Heritage Dress" for her Aztec Mexican design. The title of "Miss Teen US Latina 2009" went to 15-year-old Miss Teen Texas Latina Marissa Castro, who received the crown from fellow Texan Nicole Korrody. This is the second time back-to-back state winners are chosen Miss Teen U.S. Latina, the first time happening in 2005 when Michelle Gonzalez of Illinois crowned the delegate from her state, Geysha Gonzalez (not related).
First runner-up honors went to Rosalia Alvarez, 17, a Florida resident representing her Cuban heritage. California's Ashley Campuzano, 16, was second runner-up. Samantha Ortiz, 16, also from Florida and representing her El Salvadoran heritage placed as third runner-up, with Daleska Jimenez, 16, of Rhode Island completing the Top 5 with her fourth runner-up placing. Samantha Ortiz was also the recipient of the important "President's Award for Outstanding Achievement and Academic Excellence."
Brazilian-born Diana Franca has resided in Salt Lake City, Utah for over seven years and is currently a sophomore at the University of Utah majoring in international relations. The 5-foot-8-inch beauty excels in both sports and academics, as noted by the following distinctions: Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Scholar; Academic All-State Volleyball; All American Academic Volleyball; High School Diploma of Merit; Sterling Scholar World Languages; Region and State 1st Place Volleyball. She is tri-lingual, fluently speaking English, Portuguese and Spanish.
The newest Miss Teen U.S. Latina, Marissa Castro, is a 10th-grader at Chapin High School in El Paso, Texas, where she is a student council member and a class liaison. She is fluent in English and Spanish and has earned a place in the National Junior Honor Society.
