Meet the Miss Hollywood Miss Southland 2007 Contestants
Photos to come
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contestant #1 sarah portugal age 20, los angeles |
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| Talent: Piano, Beethoven: Für Elise | Fun Facts… |
| Senior,
UCLA Double major in Sociology and History |
• Campus campaign manager for Teach For America • Second place debate team at community college nationals • Loves all sports • Won a salsa dance contest the first day
she learned |
| Platform: Bridging the Achievement Gap | |
| "I believe that students regardless of race and demographics should have equal opportunities at education, and I believe that teachers are the ones to make the difference." | |
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contestant #2 rachel mock age 20, san ramon |
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| Talent: Violin, "Czardas" | Fun Facts… |
| Junior,
Loyola Marymount University majoring in Communications and Music |
• Has played violin for 15 years • LMU debate team member • Has been in 3 MTV shows • Attending “Alternative Break” in Juarez, Mexico this winter • Established a varsity lacrosse team |
| Platform: Muscular Dystrophy: Quest for a Cure | |
| "A major part in handling neuromuscular diseases is support and community. I feel this plays a major role in keeping up the spirits of those affected by the disease, and offering them a place of hope and life." | |
| contestant #3 tiffany tay age 23, monterey park |
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| Talent: Operatic Vocal, "O Mio Babbino Caro" | Fun Facts… |
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Graduate, UCLA |
• Won Sheriff Lee Baca community service award • Tri-lingual • Works as a real estate agent • Boys and Girls Club volunteer for 6 years • Organized Operation Smile
charity show raising
over $46,000 |
| Platform: Promoting Youth Initiative through the Boys and Girls Clubs of America | |
| "Promoting the Boys and Girls Clubs of America is a culmination of extensive personal experience and research, and I believe they are the answer to saving thousands of underprivileged children from lives of crime and poverty." | |
| contestant #4 amy yetasook age 23, valencia |
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Talent: Violincello, Dvorak: Allegro ma non troppo |
Fun Facts… |
Senior,
University of Southern California |
• Owns 4 aquariums • Prize-winning debater and journalist • Performed on live radio broadcast on KUSC 91.5FM • Teaches
chemistry and math to at-risk high school students |
| Platform: Shaping Healthier Communities: Advancing Health Care for the Medically Underserved | |
| "In medically
underserved communities, there is a lack of concern and a lack of action
for accessing health care programs. I hope that through public education programs, raised awareness, and community support, we can help bridge this disparity." |
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| contestant #5 marissa snead age 23, harrisonburg |
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| Talent: Lyrical Jazz Dance, "Unwritten" | Fun Facts… |
| Senior,
Loyola Marymount University majoring in Dance |
• Lived in Japan for 3 years • Founded Youth Empowerment Through the Arts • After-school tutor and mentor • Graduated from high school after sophomore year • Avid football fan |
| Platform: After School Programs: Enriching Lives One Child at a Time | |
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"Healthy developmental growth is vital to the success of every child. That is why I’ve chosen to join the statewide and national efforts to ensure these children have a voice and do not fall through the cracks." |
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| contestant #6 kari johnson age 23, san dimas |
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Talent: Tap Dance, "Rather Be Rich" |
Fun Facts… |
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2005 graduate, Azusa Pacific University |
• Appeared on “Boston Legal” • Starting receiver for an all-girls football team • Founded a sweepstakes club • Produced an original screenplay • Developed
an eating disorder awareness program |
| Platform: PEACE: Promoting Eating Disorder Awareness on College Campuses through Education | |
| "Through
awareness programs, we can successfully identify and change the conditions
that promote body dissatisfaction, dieting, and the drive for thinness, which are all precursors to disordered eating." |
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| contestant #7 piya mukherjee age 22, agoura hills |
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| Talent: Classical Violin | Fun Facts… |
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Graduate, UC - San Diego |
• Volunteered at Mother Teresa’s orphanage in India • Fluent in Bengali • Member of the 1st UCSD Hindi Film Dance Team • Developed the bioartificial uterus |
| Platform: Promoting a Health-COnscious Lifestyle | |
| Health-conscious living is more than just eating right - it involves takng care of your body by exercising, keeping yourself psychologically fit, and embracing a spiritual way of life that suits your personal desires and interests." | |
| contestant #8 heidi hoganson age 23, villa park |
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| Talent: Violin, "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" | Fun Facts… |
| Senior, Cal
State - Long Beach majoring in Design |
• Studio violinist for recording artists • Enjoys painting wall murals • Varsity basketball and water polo athlete • Founded 2 successful businesses while in high school • Hair and makeup
artist for theater |
| Platform: Music Education in the Public Schools | |
| "The arts are indispensible in both concrete and abstract learning. We have the ability to empower our students for lifelong growth and benefit ... MUSIC!" | |
| contestant #9 grace wong age 22, claremont |
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| Talent: Piano, Chopin: Scherzo in B-flat minor, Op. 31 | Fun Facts… |
2nd year
graduate student, Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University,
pursuing
Master in Music in Piano |
• Fluent in Chinese • Training with Red Cross to become an Emergency First Responder • Outstanding graduate in USC School of Music in ‘05 • Received a full-tuition college scholarship |
| Platform: Promoting Equal Access to Arts Education | |
| "During a time when school curriculums are constantly undergoing revision, we need to emphasize how the arts help shape stronger, healthier, and more intelligent individuals." | |
| contestant #10 lauren howard age 20, garden grove |
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| Talent: Sketch Comedy Routine | Fun Facts… |
| Junior, Cal
State - Fullerton Majoring in Performance Theatre |
• Studied at Groundlings School of Improvisation in Hollywood • Appeared in 2 Nissan commercials • Licensed ombudsman for Orange County Council on Aging • Afraid of angels and
mayonnaise! |
| Platform: Elder Abuse And Neglect | |
| "It seems as if America idolizes our youth, while neglecting our senior citizens. It is easy to lose sight of the richness of experiences older Americans have. Shifting that focuus would be my job..." | |
| contestant #11 stacy brakebill age 20, simi valley |
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| Talent: Tahitian Dance | Fun Facts… |
freshman,
Moorpark College |
• Office team leader for an orthopedic surgeon • First child in her family to attend college • Has lectured on her platform
to audiences ranging from middle schools to colleges |
| Platform: Awareness and Prevention of Drinking and Driving | |
| "It’s safe to say, together as a joined community, we all share in the safety of our streets, and with lack of positive reinforcement, prevention and education of drinking and driving, together we will continue to suffer as one." | |
| contestant #12 caprice dehlinger age 19, temecula |
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| Talent: Musical Theater Vocal, "When I Loook At You" | Fun Facts… |
| 3rd year student, Mt. San Jacinto College, majoring in Humanities |
• Has acted in several community theater plays • Finalist to sing for Temecula Live Country Music Review • 12 years of piano and 6 years of guitar • Member of Phi Theta Kappa at MSJC |
| Platform: Stronger Implementation of Fitness and Nutrition Education in Schools | |
| "The simple
fact is that poor nutrition and a lack of fitness education is pushing
our children and adolescents dangerously closer to problems and illnesses that, until recently, were rarely seen in their age group." |
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| contestant #13 kyrstin munson age 23, los angeles |
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| Talent: Classical Vocal, "La Pastorella" | Fun Facts… |
| Graduate, U. of Southern California, BS in Music Industry |
• USC Varsity Sailing team captain • Artist and talent liaison for U.S. Global Cool • Has driven through every state in continental U.S. • Prefers a bedroom facing East! |
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Platform: Global Cool - Empowering Individuals to Make Energy-Efficient Choices |
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| "The world
is in danger of reaching its climatic tipping point, and California is
currently positioned to help revolutionize our nation’s actions against global warming." |
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| contestant #14 nicole chiu age 23, palos verdes |
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| Talent: Instrumental Chinese guzheng, "Lover's Tears" | Fun Facts… |
| 1st year,
Loyola Law School BA, Women's studies and Asian/American Studies, UC - Irvine |
• Phi Beta Kappa member • On the Board of Directors of Chinese Chamber of Commerce of LA • Interned in Washington, DC • Completed women’s leadership training |
| Platform: Participate In Your Future - Register and Vote! | |
| "Our government
representatives are extremely divided on issues of the environment, war
and civil liberties; our individual votes matter now more than ever before. " |
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| contestant #15 jennifer stella age 20, santa ana |
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| Talent: Vocal, "When You're Smiling" | Fun Facts… |
| Sophomore,
Orange Coast College Plans to become an event coordinator |
• Sang the National Anthem for the Philadelphia Phillies • Played field hockey for 7 years • Manager of a baseball team • Raised more than $17,000 in scholarships for the Elks Peer Leadership program |
| Platform: Alcohol Abuse Prevention | |
| "Alcohol
abuse is the number one drug problem in America today affecting over fifteen
million Americans each year. After dealing with a loss due to alcohol abuse I got to see first hand just how serious this problem is." |
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