Florida Latina will compete with Twenty-eight  Latinas from around the United States for the  crown of Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina during the 2009 National Pageant Finals taking place in San Antonio for the first time. Representing Florida State, our state pageant delegates will arrive Friday, September 26 for preliminary competitions and activities, culminating on Sunday, September 28 with their presentations in national heritage dress, swimsuit, fashion wear and evening gown at the Jo Long Theater for the Performing Arts.

Orlando, FL September 23, 2008 - Miss Florida Latina 2008, Samaria Martinez and Miss Florida Teen Latina, Saydelis Rodriguez, will compete against 28 Latinas from all over the US for scholarship money, prizes and the chance of a lifetime to be crowned Miss Latina US and Miss Teen US Latina during the 2009 Miss Latina US Pageant from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28 at the Jo Long Theatre for the Performing Arts, 226 N. Hackberry.

Miss Latina US is the first national competition established in the country in 1983 exclusively for Latinas. It continues to be the only one whose winner advances to a world competition - the Miss Latin America of the World pageant hosted annually in different Latin American countries.

Among the nineteen women, ages 18 to 27, which will compete in the Miss Latina US Pageant, Florida's own Samaria Martinez, who is 19 years of age, of Cuban heritage and a business student at Miami Dade University, will compete this year. Meanwhile, in the Miss Teen US Latina Pageant, among the 11 teenagers, ages 14 to 17, will participate, Florida's representative is 16 year old Saydelis Rodriguez who is also of Cuban heritage, and a Criminal Justice and Law student at Leto High School whose hobbies include Flamenco Dancing, Color Guard, learning French and Sign Language.

The titleholder of the Miss Latina US pageant will represent the United States on a global stage in the Miss Latin America of the World pageant. "These pageants are a great way to celebrate the beauty, intelligence, culture, achievements and contributions that Latinos have made to the United States," said Florida's director a former beauty queen and practicing attorney in Puerto Rico.

For more information, visit www.missfloridalatina.com.