Friday night I had the opportunity to be a judge for the MIA Girl Model Contest in downtown Miami. Hundreds of women submitted their photos online and the field was narrowed down to 30 for a night of pageantry at MIA Biscayne.
Below I’m pictured with Tito Puente Jr. and Esther Dollar.
**MORE PHOTOS TO COME**
Judges included: Alicia Faccio, Miss Latina International Esther Dollar, Modeling Agent Nicole Shelley, Director Mujer Magazine Karla Chavez, Latin Grammy winner Jorge Moreno, Editor of Venue Magazine Herman Echevarria Jr., Former Mr. USA 2010 Dr. Ivan Rusilko, Fashion Marketing Director for Cigar Snob Magazine Ivan Ocampo, Eyewonder CEO & Founder John Vincent and recording artist Tito Puente Jr.
This year’s winner received $10k to represent MIA Biscayne for the next year and make appearances at several events as well as participate with a different charity every month! She has also been invited to attend my South Florida Pro Dance Convention next Sunday, February 27, 2011 at FitSource, so she will learn all the skills she needs to be well-prepared for the year ahead as “MIA Girl!” And — here she is…
Thanks to Liza and Gabriel at CREATIVAS for always including me in these exciting events!
They’re billing this film as “The Bourne Identity” meets “Taken” … and you know what? It really is! For lack of better words, I REALLY LIKED THIS MOVIE! I always love when a plot is believable, something that could possibly happen in real life, not matter how crazy and twisted it may be. The movie has a very intense car chase where I felt myself holding my breath and the fight scenes and other action sequences were perfectly shot, not too overdone or over the top! Liam Neeson is so perfect for these types of roles because he has that air about him of being smart, quick-witted and an in-control demeanor. The storyline is basically, he’s in love with his wife and they take a trip to Berlin for him to speak at a conference, but through a sequence of mishaps, he ends up in the hospital and starts to question who he really is, because what he thinks is his reality…really isn’t! All I know is, if that ish happened to me, I would’ve been freaked out…no passport, foreign country/language, sketchy memory…I wouldn’t know what to do. See, ya always got to keep an I.D. on you, because you just never know what could and will happen and you don’t want to en up being “UNKNOWN!” Go to the theater and watch it now…it’s Aubrey approved.
I was recently interviewed to be featured as a spokesperson for the inaugural “My Empowoment” campaign by the wonderful women of Social Esquire. My friend Jamila asked me to do an interview and I was very flattered that she wanted me involved. I think it’s a great cause and I applaud these women for taking the initiative to create this campaign! EmpoWOMENt: (verb; \im-pau-wimin-ent): to promote and embrace ones own self-actualization by using positive thinking to make change, through growth that is self-initiated, and never ending.
My Empowoment is an ongoing initiative to raise the awareness of issues facing women globally, and to financially contribute to non-profit orgnizations that benefit woment in need worldwide. This initiative is driven by the passion and desire of Social Esquire. Our goal is to make a direct positive impact on the female population, who suffer at the hands of injustice.
If you are interested in being a part of the Empowoment movement, please contact us at empowoment@socialesquire.com. Take charge, Take action!
Here’s the “interview” I did on Empowoment:
**Note – I am so much better at being the interviewer as opposed to the interviewee! lol
They also have a tweet-a thon- happening March 8, 2011! It’s a great cause…check it out!
“One Life, One Love, A Powerful You!” On March 8, 2011, Social Esquire will host a tweet-a-thon from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, to celebrate women’s “EmpoWOMENt.” We will also be honoring the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, by raising awareness about issues effecting women globally. International Women’s Day, celebrates the economic, political, and social achievements of women worldwide. EmpoWOMENt is an international grassroots initiative that encourages women to promote and embrace ones own self-actualization by using positive thinking to make change, through growth that is self-initiated, and never ending.
Our goal is to donate a $1 to a local and international charity, for every tweet that includes #empowoment. The local charity will be Honey Shine Mentoring Program (a program of Alonzo Mourning Charities, www.honeyshine.org), and the international organization will be the Global Fund for Women (www.globalfundforwomen.org). Each organization supports women and girls, who are experiencing challenges and difficulties, at different points in their life.
This will allow people worldwide to demonstrate their commitment to the betterment of women and girls, while also raising awareness.
The Pro Cheer and Dance workshops I am coordinating for Going Pro Entertainment are shaping up very nicely and spots are filling up fast!! These “dance conventions” are designed to prepare women who are interested in becoming professional dancers and/or cheerleaders for Pro Teams in the NFL, NBA, AFL, MLB and other sports leagues. All the events are staffed by alumni of their respective dance and cheer teams, and it’s been so exciting for me to build all-star rosters for each of the conventions I am putting together in Miami and the Bay Area…my 2 homes!
First up, the Miami Pro Dance Convention – Sunday, February 27, 2011 at FitSource in North Miami. The NFL’s Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders auditions are coming up on April 30, 2011. Click here to see an episode of On The Flipside when I judged their auditions for the 2009 season! The convention is also a great way to prep for Miami HEAT Dancer auditions this summer.
The Miami workshop will feature choreography and presentations by:
**Trisia Brown, NFL Cheerleader – Miami, NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader, NFL & Pro Bowl Choreographer
**Eli Ferrades, NBA Dancer- Miami
**Tiffany Jackson, NBA Dancer- Miami
**Kelli Russell, NHL Director – Florida
**FitSource Trainer Boot Camp
NEXT is the Bay Area (West Coast) Convention – Saturday, March 12 at Crunch in Danville, CA. This is the perfect way to get ready for the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush auditions on Sunday, March 27, 2011 and/or the Oakland Raiderettes tryouts (date TBA). The Bay Area (West Coast) workshop is perfect for dancers who are looking to join NBA teams like the Warrior Girls or Sacramento Kings Dancers too!
The West Coast line up of choreographers & presenters includes: **Robin Delaney, NFL Cheerleader – Gold Rush & Raiderettes, NBA Dancer – Golden State
**Jada Law, NBA Dancer – Sacramento and LA Lakers
**Erin Salvetti, NFL Cheerleader – San Diego
**Cole Martin, NFL Cheerleader -Raiderettes, 2010 NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader
**Patty Herrera, NFL Cheerleader – Raiderettes, NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleader & Captain
**Crunch Fitness Director – Warrior Girls Trainer
This event is a great way for women who are interested in auditioning and trying out for a pro team, because it will provide them with valuable insight into what it takes to make the squad! Participants will receive valuable information on how to perfect their look (fitness, hair, makeup, audition attire), what to expect in the interview process & how to best be prepared, as well as learn choreography & dance technique. Attendees also have the opportunity to ask questions and get answers direct from the women who’ve held the positions they seek on a Pro Team. All current, alumni and prospective professional dancers and cheerleaders are invited… And — we also welcome pro, semi-pro and college dance teams to attend and learn new choreography & tips they can take back and perform!
