UCF student Elaine Felix was crowned the winner of the Miss Florida Latina Beauty Pageant during a three-day event from Friday to Sunday. Felix is a molecular biology and microbiology major at UCF and is involved with the school's American Medical Student Association, International Medical Outreach and Pre-Professional Medical Society.
"It is almost unbelievable," Felix said. "I never expected this in my life and I am so excited."
Felix said, "I saw it as a good growing experience for me personally, and it's been exactly that; I've learned how to be more confident in myself and it's been kind of a learning experience, and I am glad I did it."
In addition to school activities, Felix is a member of the Calvary Chapel South Orlando. The Miss Florida Latina Beauty Pageant was the first beauty pageant she has been in.
"It's great, it's just great excitement," Alan Felix, Elaine's brother said. "I love my sister to death, and I am just happy for her."
Jonathan Virgilio, Felix's boyfriend added, "It's amazing, it's the best thing that could ever happen right now. It's just awesome."
The event, which was held at the Lake Buena Vista Palace Hotel near the Walt Disney World Resort, was divided into three different competitions - swimsuit, evening gown and personal interview.
The event opened with the contestants of both the Miss Florida Latina competition and Miss Florida Teen Latina competition performing a dance number wearing trench coats and top hats. The event was presented by the hosts Giancarla Sambo, the pageant's organizer, and Samaria Martinez, the 2007 winner of the Miss Florida Latina Beauty Pageant - in both Spanish and English. Contestants were allowed to speak in the language in which they felt the most comfortable with.
"Latino women like to look good, we like to dress up," Sambo, the organizer and state director of the Florida Preliminaries of the Miss Latina Pageant said. "even if it's just for the supermarket or running errands. It's something really big. And we like shows; if it's something really lively, we like music, we like our culture."
Sambo said, "I know that there are a couple of local pageants looking at us as an example of what a statewide and national pageant should be like, so we're really proud to be an example to other pageant directors and to be an example of what other Latina girls can accomplish."
In the past, Sambo competed in both the Miss USA and Miss Puerto Rico Beauty Pageant systems.
The pageant has been a part of Florida's beauty pageant scene for 25 years. The first pageant was held in Miami in 1983. In 2007, the pageant was brought to Orlando due to the city's tourist destinations and its central location.
As the winner of the pageant, Felix will receive an all-expenses paid trip to San Antonio, Texas, where she will compete for the 2008 National Miss Latina Beauty Pageant crown. In addition to the chance to compete in the national Miss Latina competition, Felix will also receive a prize package, including custom-made jewelry, complementary spa services, special appearance contract and free pageant coaching services.
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