FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 31, 2013
Contact: Vanessa Berrueta: missminnesotalatina2013@gmail.com

                                                                                                                               

MISS MINNESOTA LATINA USES TITLE TO BRING AWARENESS OF ORAL HEALTH TO LATINOS AT THIS YEAR’S HIGH HEEL DASH

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Miss Minnesota Latina 2013, Vanessa Berrueta, is using her title and professional experience as a dentist, to help spread awareness about oral health issues to Latinos in Minnesota by working with, and supporting Project Healthy Smile at this year’s High Heel Dash.

Originally from Venezuela, Vanessa obtained a degree in dentistry. Her passion for educating Latinos about oral health care has increased over the years and hasn’t ceased since moving to Minnesota which she now calls home. Miss Berrueta will be representing Minnesota at the National Miss Latina US Pageant in Cancun, Mexico, August 18^th - 25^th as she competes for the title of Miss Latina US.

“Being a pageant titleholder hasn’t separated me from my passion for dentistry,” said Berrueta. “For this reason, it is amazing to have the honor as Miss Minnesota Latina to help Project Healthy Smile in their admirable mission to bring oral health education and dental supplies to underprivileged children globally!”

With Hispanics being the fastest and largest growing minority group in the U.S. and where half of the Hispanic population is younger than 27 years old, oral health care is an important issue. Unfortunately it is an often overlooked concern. According to the Hispanic Dental Association, “Twice as many Hispanic children are likely to have untreated dental caries as are non-Hispanic white children and the percentage of children who have never visited a dentist is highest among Mexican children (17.7 percent).”* In addition, language barriers present difficulties for Hispanics to receive adequate oral health care attention and information. As a result, they will not even try to ask about oral health care options. Fluent in Spanish and English, Miss Berrueta desires to offer her services, and shed light on this unique topic, so she can not only help advocate for Latinos, but also act as a translator helping people receive the correct information and care they need.

By working with and supporting Project Healthy Smile, Miss Berrueta is achieving her goal of helping Latinos have access and knowledge to oral health care. To help show her support, Miss Berrueta has created a team, Miss Minnesota Latina 2013, to join her in raising funds and participating in this year’s High Heel Dash.

To join the team, click on the following link: http://fundraising.active.com/fundraiser/MissMinnesotaLatina2013 and make a donation to help Miss Berrueta and Project Healthy Smile in their mission to bring oral health education and dental supplies to underprivileged children globally.

The 4^th Annual High Heel Dash down Nicollet Mall is a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting the Aegis Foundation and Project Healthy Smile. This event takes place on Wednesday, August 14^th and contestants will compete against each other in 25-yard dash heats wearing heels 3 inches or taller.

Follow Miss Minnesota Latina, Vanessa Berrueta on Facebook and on Twitter @MNLatina.
For more information on the Miss Latina US Pageant go to www.missuslatina.com

*Fast Facts on Hispanic Oral Health is provided courtesy of the Hispanic Dental Association with statistical input from the US Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control. http://www.hdassoc.org/education-and-resources/statistics/

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MEET MISS TEEN MINNESOTA LATINA 2013

CAMILA PAYAN

Camila Payan is a sweet and self-assured Colombian from Bloomington, Minnesota. At 5’5” this beautiful brown-eyed, 16 year old attends Thomas Jefferson High School earning an honorable 3.5 grade point average. Camila is also a dedicated volleyball player. In fact, she recently earned the JAG Pride Award for volleyball. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and has lived in Minnesota since 2001. Camila works as a Team Member at Culvers, and in her spare time enjoys dancing. Her favorite TV programs include America’s Best Dance Crew, America’s Next Top Model and anything Disney. Camila admires Martin Luther King Jr. and how he stood up in his beliefs against racism, which inevitable caused his untimely death, and she credits her good friend, Andres with teaching her a lot about life, relationships and gave her the advice to be happy, be strong, and believe. She desires to be a role model and to help others achieve their best.

When crowned the new Miss Teen Minnesota Latina, Camila Payan noted that, "it's an honor to be Miss Teen Minnesota Latina because now I can make an impact on my Latino community and help people in need to receive some smiles."  

Support her by liking her Facebook page Miss Teen Minnesota Latina and following her on Twitter at @TeenMNLatina

For more information on Miss Latina US visit www.missuslatina.com

More than a Model...A ROLE MODEL!

MEET MISS MINNESOTA LATINA 2013

VANESSA BERRUETA

The vivacious and talented Vanessa Berrueta Zambrano was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and has a degree in dentistry. With a heart for helping others, she has also worked to help less privileged communities as well as collaborated on research projects supporting Venezuelan ethnic groups. However, this did not turn her away from her passion for the runway. As a professional model, she has had the opportunity to work in different bridal shows and fashion shows for brands such as L'Oreal. In addition, Vanessa participated in the Miss Zulia / Miss Venezuela where she was named Miss Punctuality and Miss Personality. She moved to Minnesota in early 2012, and her hobbies include traveling, riding and reading. Currently she is working on perfecting her English, and preparing to enter the foreign dentistry program at the University of Minnesota.

Upon being crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2013, Miss Beruetta noted that, “Winning the crown for Miss Minnesota Latina has been a real honor for me! I will work hard to bring the national title (Miss Latina US) to my new home, Minnesota.”

The Miss Latina U.S. pageant will take place in Cancun, Mexico, August 18th-25th, and if crowned, Miss Beruetta will advance to the international competition to vie for the title of Miss Latin America of the World!!

Support Vanessa on her journey to the crown by liking Miss Minnesota Latina on Facebook and following her on Twitter at @MNLatina 

For more information on Miss Latina US visit www.missuslatina.com

More than a Model...A ROLE MODEL!

Are You Ready For MORE??!!!

Miss Minnesota Latina is fired up for the next round of competition, as Minnesota’s newly crowned Miss Minnesota Latina 2013, Vanessa Berrueta, prepares to bring home the Miss Latina US crown!! Once attained, she can then advance to compete for the crown and title of Miss Latin America of the World!! Miss Berruetta along with former Miss Minnesota Latina 2012, Ivet Garcia will travel to Cancun, Mexico where the week-long pageant events begin August 18th at the exotic Riviera Maya hosted by Barceló Hotels & Resorts!! Miss Garcia, who won 1st runner-up at last year’s nationals, has been working diligently with Miss Berrueta, mentoring her along with a strong team of Minnesota supporters. We have high hopes for our reigning queen and have no doubt that the crown will be attained!!! Follow Miss Berrueta on her journey to the crown!!

Miss Minnesota Latina is the first competition established in the state of Minnesota exclusively for Latinas and the only one whose winner advances to a national competition.