As you know by now, my maltipoo is one of many loves in my life. I probably take about 3 pictures a day of him. At least. It’s an obsession I know.

After taking so many photos, I realized that Carlos definitely looks good in pictures. I like to joke he’s photogenic because he got it from me. Seeing how I have so many contacts in “the industry” as we like to call it, I decided to put them to use. Long story short, my baby Carlos has an agent! Yep he’s going to earn his puppy chow!

As soon as he’s fully trained, lost his puppy teeth and ready to work I have a photo shoot planned for him and then we’ll start submitting him for jobs. I hope he gets to be “cute dog” in a commercial or the dog they show running down stairs to eat his food. Time will tell, but I have faith in him. He’s just so adorable!!!

As a former pageant queen, I can understand the nerves that occur when you have to strut on a stage in a bikini and heels. I trained with a personal trainer for months before I did it, so I get it. HOWEVER, I am not okay with seeing someones rib cage. Being healthy and toned is one thing, but when I can see her pelvic bone pertruding from her left thigh and her entire rib cage I just cringe. This woman is absolutely beautiful, she really is. But someone needs to tell her to look more healthy. This is not an image Miss USA 2011 should be for young girls. As attractive as this woman is I really hope someone tells her she is taking her work outs and eating habits too far and this is not healthy.

On Sunday September 19th I’ll be modeling at The Club at Sonterra for A Fashion Show To Remember. Champagne Brunch starts at 11:30 and the event ends at 3:00. Proceeds go to the campaign fund of Margaret Montemayor for Bexar County District Clerk. For more information or if you’d like to buy a ticket please contact Elva Abundis at 210-219-9060. Hope to see you there!

Today the January 2010 issue of Latin Connection magazine came out and I’m pleased to announce that yours truly is on the cover! I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to grace the cover and hope that this is the beginning of many more.

Thank you to Wayne Zamora the Editor of Latin Connection for giving me this opportunity, to Angela Michelle for always being an amazing photographer, Desiree Cervantes for being the best photoshoot assistant, Alex Trey for being wonderfully supportive and Tami Crawford for making sure my make up is always fabulous. Without all of you this wouldn’t be the same.

And of course a special thanks to my family and friends, because they always inspire me to keep pushing myself to do more.

If you’d like to have a copy you can view the website and download or print the pdf file.  Click here for the Latin Connection Magazine website.

On December 20, 2009, I had another photo shoot with Angela of AM Photography. We met up to shoot the images for my cover of Latin Connection Magazine, as well as do some updated shots. The photo shoot was lots of fun, we definitely took some great photos and Angela has amazing talent. The picture above is from our shoot and I’ll have an album up as soon as I can.

Click here for AM Photography website.

This past Sunday I had the joy of working with a photographer by the name of Angela Michelle. We shot outdoors at a library in Olmos Park and I loved every minute of it. The shoot was AMAZING; and she had a great assistant, who helped with those little things that always come up during a shoot. This girl knows what she’s doing and she does it well. If any of you ever need a photographer in Texas, this is your person!

Photo album of images will be coming soon, so keep your eye out!

Also, I am very thankful for my hair stylist Stacey Fyfe of Smoothlines Salon and Spa. She helped me get that effortless soft curl I love! And my make up artist Tami Crawford. She definitely did a wonderful job with my dramatic eyes and beautiful lipstick. Thank you ladies, I truly appreciate all your help!

Click here for AM Photography website.

Click here for Tami Crawfords website.

Click here to see my debut on the NOH8 website!

I wanted to be a part of the fight for equality and as a minority who has faced discrimination in my life, do so in a peaceful manner. Regardless of whether or not you agree with legalizing same sex marriage, we as individuals have civil rights and the privilege to choose our own path. That’s what makes America so wonderful. We have freedoms and rights, that some countries only dream of having.  I believe the issues represented in the NOH8 campaign are what being an American is about, recognizing equality; and I’m happy to be a part of that.

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This shoot was a lot of fun for me. The first idea of fighting over my crown was one I had thought of for awhile. I wanted it to be funny, but also look like we were really fighting. The second idea I had was to do the Mexican stereotype in a typical dress, but have a little humor. I made myself a taco and then wanted to do a couple of just standing in the dress shots. The last idea was a scary police officer. The make up artist helped me taking a risk with the high fashion make up line across my eyes. I really liked the idea and my favorite shot is of me screaming. I felt like I looked scary, but at the same time it has a lot of emotion going on in the picture.  (MUA: Heather Davila)

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Melissa Schwartz is one of my favorite photographers of all time, hands down. She’s easy to work with, gifted with a camera and if I was wealthy enough to have her photograph me at every event I would. When I flew to Los Angeles my last trip, I booked a shoot with her and asked her to help me with a big task. (Photograph me in my new sash and crown of course!) Her pictures were amazing and not only looked natural, but needed little to no retouching at all. If anyone lives in Los Angeles and needs a photographer I highly suggest her!
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© Melissa Schwartz Photograher