Model Latina

Posted on May 27, 2012 by Vianessa

I used to model as a kid.  Nothing major, mostly local print work and fashion shows coupled with the occassional booking as a mannequin model/live mannequin at department stores and the like.  I did this throughout high school and upon entering college, when it became apparent to me and agents that I wasn’t getting any taller, I had to let it go. 

A few years ago I had the opportunity to revisit my former model life when I auditioned for the first season of a show called Model Latina.  The show aimed to look past the height limitations of the modeling industry and instead focused on the beauty that is found throught Latin American countries.  I thought (and still think) that the concept of the show is genius . . . even if I never heard back from producers after my callback :-/

The new season will be airing on nuvoTV starting Monday May 28 and will be taking place in sunny Miami Florida.  TV, sun, Florida . . . again, why am I not on this show?! All jokes aside, it is a very fun competition show and I recommend you tune in.  I’ve watched Model Latina in the past and the contestants have all been top notch.  And with a judging panel that includes the ever-dreamy Carlos Ponce, you’d be a fool to miss out!

This post has been compensated and in collaboration with nuvoTV and Latina Bloggers Connect. Don’t let that fool you, all thoughts are my own!
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The Skin I’m In

Posted on May 26, 2012 by Vianessa

With memorial weekend already here and summer just around the corner, you best believe that I will be spending a lot of time in the sun. My Caribbean blood needs sunshine like a teenage girl needs attention; it gives me life . . . And a glorious bronze coloring.

In college I used to slather on the baby oil and head out to the pool. I KNOW! Don’t judge me! When you go to school in Florida life is nothing but one long tanning competition. But I like to think I’ve matured since then, well, at least I’ve gotten better with taking care of my skin.  I don’t leave the house without a moisturzer with at least SPF 15 and even my make-up and tanning lotions offer sun protection. 

SPF (sun protection factor) is the way to measure the effectiveness of sunscreen.  The higher the SPF the more protection you get from UVB rays and the longer you can stay in the sun before getting sun burned. However, it’s UVA rays that can cause real damage to your skin, so when you’re out shopping for a sunblock, make sure that you read the lable and be clear on what kind of protection you’re getting. And seeing how the skin is the largest organ of the human body, it’s kind of essential that we do our part to take care of it.  Not only for the ‘youth’ factor, but for our health in general.

So while you’re out there soaking up the rays, be it at a barbecue, going for a run, or roasting at the beach, make sure that you not only drink a lot of water, but give your skin some protection from the harmful UVB/UVA rays that are bound to creep up on you.

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Hair

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Vianessa

I am the Queen of Hair.  My hair style changes almost as often as my mood.  And like a lot women, when I go through the trouble of getting my hair styled I find myself trying to figure now not to undo all of that effort after a session at the gym.  I’m actually looking at my hair right now, which I straightened a few days ago, and since then I’ve worked out a few times and I still have yet to touch it up.  The roots are a little frizzy, yes, but it’s survived both TRX and sprints so I’m good.

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Happy Birthday to Me!

Posted on May 19, 2012 by Vianessa

This past Thursday was my birthday, which as always, was bitter sweet. I’m not one of those people that has issues with aging (yet), it just strikes me how fast times seems to go by the older you get. Oh well, gotta make the most of the present I always say! I had a great birthday doing things I love: hanging out with friends and wandering the streets of Hollywood.

I celebrated with dinner at Beso in Hollywood and also attended an event hosted by Ford and BlogsByLatinas. To top it off, I received a pretty sa-weet beauty swag bag with items from Covergirl, Pantene, L’Oreal Paris, and Artistry!

Here’s to turning 30!

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What’s a Bikini Competition?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Vianessa

It took a comment from one of my readers for me to realize that with all of my harping about how I want to be a bikini competitor, I’ve never really elaborated on what that means.

Continue reading →

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Cardio Accountability

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Vianessa

So I went to the track this morning for a cardio workout. I ran stadiums/stairs and alternated at the top with either walking lunges or side lunges. When I did about 8 sets I went down to the track for 4 sets of bounding and 8 sprints. I fully intended to lift today too, but as I’ve got some tasty treats to prepare for a friend’s birthday party, lifting’s gonna have to wait. So I got to thinking: work has been a little slow this season, and even though as of last week things started to pick up, I really have no excuse for not staying on top of my workouts. I do intend to do a bikini competition afterall, and slacking will not get me on that stage. I managed to reel in the diet even more this past week, and now I’m going to challenge myself further by doing cardio every day. Yep, you read that right. Me, the anti-cardio princess, am putting this on my blog in order to hold myself accountable.

Don’t get caught getting ready ;-)

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Coconut Oil and its Many Benefits

Posted on May 11, 2012 by Vianessa

Long ago, I discovered the benefits of Coconut Oil for my hair.  Well, not so much my hair as much as my friend’s hair – she swore by it, and her hair was always luscious.  I grew up drinking coconut water fresh from the tree (or is it technically from the nut ??) and eating coconut and coconut milk in a variety of foods, but I never really knew how versatile the coconut was nor understood its benefits.  Enter coconut oil.  My friend put me on to its hair nourishing properties and more recently, I purchased a jar of Coconut Oil from Trader Joe’s and put it to the test wok-sauteeing some shrimp. Come to find out, Coconut Oil has tons of benefits in and out of the kitchen!

Uses and Benefits of Coconut Oil . . .

  • Easily absorbed by the skin and can help sufferes of psoriasis or eczema
  • The Vitamin E and antioxidants can prevent dryness and wrinkling
  • The molecular structure of coconut oil makes it easily absorbed by the hair and can treat dry scalp
  • When buying coconut oil for cooking, it can be stored on the shelf for a long time
  • Coconut oil can be heated to a higher to temperature than most other oils, which makes it versatile in a lot of dishes
  • It contains saturated fats with anti-microbial properties, which help eliminate parasites, bacteria and other causes of indigestion
  • The lauric acid in coconut oil has been known to help control high blood pressure and high cholesterol
  • Coconut oil can help improve thyroid function and may therefore help you lose weight

This list is brief, but you get the idea.  So next time you’re looking for a new way to moisturize your hair or skin, or are wanting to put a healthy twist on your favorite recipe, reach for the coconut oil!

Photo courtesy of hybridrastamama.com
Posted in Beauty, The Kitchen | Tagged | 7 Comments