Exclusive Interview with Miss Teen International 2006 & Potential Miss Puerto Rico Universe 2009 Delegate [Mayra Matos]

[MPRUW] When did you become interested in beauty pageants? [MAYRA] When I was a little girl I wasn’'t interested in beauty pageants or modeling. I preferred to dance. When I was sixteen years old I got interested in beauty pageants and participated in one for the first time. [MPRUW] You gave Puerto Rico great joy when you became Miss Teen International in 2006. Tell us about your experience as an international teenage titleholder? [MAYRA] It was a great responsibility and it took a lot of discipline and hard work. I discovered a whole new world because of the photo sessions, interviews and exposure to the media. And I also traveled to many different countries and had culture exchange with these people. The mayor and the people of my town received me with a very special home coming celebration. Definitely that was a wonderful experience. [MPRUW] We also know you enjoy modeling. What has been the most important experience you have had so far in that arena? [MAYRA] For the first time I received prizes for skin and face of L’oreal Paris in the competition of “La Cara de Imagen”. I was among the finalists of that modeling competition. I have been modeling in Puerto Rico for many designers,such as, Nono Maldonado, Carlos Alberto, Carlota Alfaro, Tommie Hernandez and Ángel López. The most important modeling experience I've had was to travel to Peru, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

[MPRUW] Many of our readers believe you have potential to represent Puerto Rico in a grand slam pageant and have written about it in our forum. What would you tell them? [MAYRA] First of all I feell very grateful, because you put all your faith in me. It would be a great honor to represent my country with dignity and pride. I assure that I will give the maximum of my potential to win that crown. And soon you will read more news about me. [MPRUW] What impact do you think the Internet has had on beauty pageants? [MAYRA] The internet is a very important mass communication media for the readers to know more about the candidates that are participating in any beauty pageant. And also they can write opinions about the delegates; and those opinions serve us to better ourselves and to enhance our image.