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.”

DVIDS

Miss Ohio USA Pageant

The Vern Riffe Center for the Arts
At Shawnee State University
Portsmouth, Ohio

November 20-22, 2008