Former NFL Events Coordinator acquires Directorship of Miss California Latina™ Pageant.

Jan. 22, 2008 - PRLog -- The Miss Latin America Organization is proud to announce that the Miss California Latina™ and Miss Teen California Latina™ Pageants have come under the directorship of Jennifer Rodriguez of The Gala Company LLC in Los Angeles.  These are the official state preliminaries to select the California delegates to the Miss Latina US™ and Miss Teen US Latina™ national competitions.

“We are very fortunate to have Ms. Rodriguez join our organization,” said President and Founder Acirema Alayeto.  “She is an incredibly talented and motivated young Latina, and having been a former beauty pageant finalist herself, she is well-suited to being a role model to her pageant contestants.”  

Jennifer began her career in sports and entertainment at an early age making one of her most notable marks at the National Football League. Upon graduation from Hofstra University Frank G. Zarb School of Business, she obtained a position at the National Football League as an intern for Commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

After performing above and beyond the call of duty, Jennifer was retained by the NFL to work in the public relations department, where she focused on the league's community affairs. While there she created Celebrando, a national newsletter highlighting accomplishments of Latin and Hispanic players, coaches and cheerleaders in the National Football League.

Jennifer quickly rose through the ranks and landed a position as events coordinator for the NFL, where she managed major events, such as the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl, the NFL Draft, and league owner meetings.  Her work was valued by many of the player in the NFL so much that she was approached to independently coordinate fundraisers and events for players such as Terry Jackson of the San Francisco 49ers and Lance Shulters of the Miami Dolphins.

This New York native of Dominican heritage is also an accomplished dancer, having studied various dance techniques, from ballet to hip-hop, at several schools in New York City, including the world-renowned Alvin Ailey Dance School.  Her life-long passion for dance has included an internship at The Dance Theater of Harlem and numerous appearances in music videos. While at Hofstra University, she became captain of their nationally-ranked dance team, performing in nationally televised competitions and even a half time show for the New York Jets
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Upon her relocation from New York to Los Angeles, Jennifer was named director for John Casablancas Modeling and Training Center in Beverly Hills, where she created new programs and coordinated events to build and showcase the Center’s talent.

Jennifer says she is very excited to be the state director for the Miss California Latina™ and Miss Teen California Latina ™ Pageants, adding, “My vision for the state is to mentor and create opportunities for Latinas to pursue their goals and dreams, while impacting the community.”  Jennifer is also working on the creation and production of a sports show and writing a book.

With the addition of Jennifer, the Miss Latin America Pageant system can now boast it has two distinguished Hofstra University graduates among its state directors, and in two of the three largest Latino markets in the US.  Former Miss Latina US and Miss Latin America winner Melissa Quesada holds the New York directorship.  

Says Pageant Founder Alayeto, “These two beautiful, accomplished and intelligent Latinas, just like Leslie Ann Cintron in Oklahoma, Giancarla Sambo in Florida and Marjorie Weller in Tennessee, exemplify the high caliber of talent being attracted to our pageant system…and we couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The Gala Company LLC will soon be launching the official state pageant website under the domain www.misscalifornialatina.com.

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About Organizacion Miss America Latina, Inc.: based in Miami, Florida, it is the oldest and largest producer of Latina pageants worldwide. Beginning in 1981, founding President Acirema Alayeto created an international pageant system where Latin American women from around the world annually compete for the title of Miss Latin AmericaA®, best known worldwide as “Miss America Latina.” The company also produces the annual Miss Latina US™ and Miss Teen US Latina™ national pageants.

Website: www.missamericalatina.com