Ohio Army NG Gal Running for Miss Ohio
An Ohio Army National Guard member from Cleveland is in the running to become the 2009 Miss Ohio USA.
2nd Lt. Elena Gonzalez will compete for the title against more than 50 contestants from throughout the state during a Nov. 20-22 competition at The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts on the Shawnee State University campus in Portsmouth, Ohio. The winner will go on to represent Ohio in the 2009 Miss USA competition on April 19 at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Gonzalez, a native of Euclid near Cleveland, won the opportunity to represent Ohio after winning the title of Miss Euclid USA in July 2008. The competition marked the second such contest for the 23-year-old medical platoon leader and logistic operations officer for the Cleveland-based 237th Brigade Support Battalion. Gonzalez entered her first pageant when she competed for Miss Teen Ohio USA as a high school student in 2003.
A December 2007 graduate of University of Toledo with a bachelor of science degree in biology, Gonzalez enjoyed a full scholarship through the Army ROTC program. She said the military has helped her prepare for the competitions in several ways.
“It’s pushed me to do things that I never would have done in my civilian life, like rappelling or obstacle courses,” Gonzalez said. “It’s definitely been a confidence builder.”
Although Soldiering and competing in pageants might seem an odd mix, Gonzalez said she likes to push the envelope and do the unexpected.
“I like to break stereotypes. You can paint your nails and put on make up and still be a Soldier,” she said. “It has nothing to do with the internal drive for success. The military is just another avenue for success.”
The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
At Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, OhioNovember 20-22, 2008
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Best wishes to a wonderful person. Your well on your way to a beautiful life. Be true to yourself and others. The dedication to your friends, the initiative to complete a task, the understanding you have about this great nation can only be in your favor. Duty, honor, country has been your credo as long as we have known you. Good luck and God Bless you and this great nation.
Thank you for your service to our country. semper fi SgtMaj. & Patty USMC (Ret.)
Good luck in your Portsmouth pageant Elena! Thank you for your service to the country. Ohio couldn’t have a better representative for Miss USA than yourself.
Tom Hill
TWS member
Golf Company 2nd Blt 4th Marines
CAP 127
Vietnam 68/69
Good luck and i hope you win. Thankyou for your service. T.W.S. Member. R.V.N. 1969-1970. Hotel company 2nd Blt. 5th Marines.
You go show them Girl, OUR armed Forces are the BEST. lots of luck to you.
Best of luck too you American Patriot.
Thank You for your service to our Country!