No matter what “Toddlers and Tiaras” tells you, some mothers actually tell their daughters to stay away from beauty pageants.
That is what happened with Merlix Ventura as a 5-year-old, being banned from beauty pageants by her mother for being “too demanding.” The 21-year-old is now a contestant in the Miss New York USA pageant next week, according to DNAinfo.
Lasting from Jan. 13 to 15 in Westchester, the pageant is a stepping-stone to Donald Trump’s Miss USA and Miss Universe contests. Over 300 applicants every year are judged on both inner and outer beauty. According to Ventura, the judges “want to see you are polished, open-minded, and kind-hearted.” The contest has no talent segment, and asks contestants tough questions on controversial issues such as abortion or drug policies.
“That is the type of woman they are looking for—fit, healthy, able to speak in public, express ourselves without offending anybody,” Ventura said.
Ventura took two years to prepare for the contest. In the past few weeks, she has been working out daily, walking almost everywhere, and meeting regularly with her interview coach. She has also been busy in the 16-year break between pageants, founding Da Urban Butterflies, a non-profit dedicated to young women of color in Washington Heights that recently won a $55,000 grant from Union Square Awards, a fund that recognizes organizations “that address social justice by mobilizing New Yorkers to take action.” Ventura is also a modeling teacher at KB Modeling Agency.
Ventura says that these experiences have made helped develop her character. She looks forward to winning the contest with “her smile, with her intelligence.” She may not make it on “Little Miss Sunshine,” but she should definitely do well representing the Dominican Republic at the Miss New York USA pageant.
For more on this story check out DNAinfo.
