ERICA
Born on August 4th, in the city of Brooklyn, New York and raised between the United States and Puerto Rico. Her parents are both from Puerto Rico. During her childhood, she spent her holidays and summers in Puerto Rico with her family where she learned about her Hispanic roots and culture.
After graduating from high school, she moved to Puerto Rico with her mom. Erica began to study Computer Programming at Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico in Aguadilla, PR for two years where she graduated and received an Associate degree. She then relocated to Florida where she is currently majoring in Broadcast Journalism and Motion Picture/TV Production and Public Relations.
The former Latina Beauty Queen started in the arts and entertainment industry at an early age. Multitalented, charismatic, hardworking, outgoing and beautiful inside out are just some of the characteristics that define Erica. With a charming personality, loving, honest, determined, and persistent, a dreamer who loves life and is determined and passionate to do the best she can with her talents. Spontaneous and disciplined because it keeps her balanced but always does the things she enjoys because she understands that life is a journey and not just a destination. She believes that life is about finding your true potential and not settling for anything less. As a child, Erica developed many talents just to name a few: Dance (Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Gymnastics, Lyrical, and Hip Hop). Her mom enrolled her in dance and acting classes at an early age. She started Ice Skating at the age of 5 and acting at age 7. She became passionate in the world of dance where she had 16 years of dance training and considered dancing professionally and auditioning for Broadway dance Musicals in New York City. She filmed her first TV cereal commercial at the age of 7 at Barbizon Modeling Agency in New York. She has modeled for many fashion shows such as Fashion Designers Expo and modeled gowns/cocktail dresses for Zola Keller and Kesi Case. Erica was recently a featured extra on “Step Up 4” and has been an extra on “Havana Nights” and “Wuthering Heights”. She has been a model in music videos, commercials and television series extra roles such as “Burn Notice”. She started modeling at the age of 14 when her mom signed her up for a local pageant at the mall and won her first local pageant. Dance and acting still play a huge interest and impact in her life.
3375 Tell us when and how your career got
started?
ERCIA I
started my career in the entertainment industry at the early age of 3
with Dance, Acting & Modeling. My mom registered me for Ballet
classes and I didn’t like Ballet. She then decided to enroll me in
Tap classes and I loved Tap! Then she signed me up for acting classes
at age 7 with Barbizon and I filmed my first cereal commercial and at
age 14, she signed me up to compete in a local pageant at the mall
and I kept winning titles! And that’s how my career started.
3375 Being born in the USA, how important was it for you to visit Puerto
ERCIA It
was very important for me to visit my country since I have family
there and my mom was born in Puerto Rico. Every Christmas and summer,
I would spend one month in Puerto Rico and after graduating high
school, I moved there and attended College there as well since I knew
the language perfectly, I never had any trouble adapting to living in
my country of origin. Aside from that, I learned a lot and had the
opportunity to attend college in Puerto Rico and receive my Associate
Degree in Computer Science.
3375 Was it difficult to get respect as a woman in your career?
ERCIA It
was very challenging since I’ve always worked around more male than
female in my career. I’ve never been comfortable doing nude or
partial nude model shoots and in numerous occasions, I was offered to
do nude model photo shoots since it has never been my cup of tea so
those are the jobs I always reject.
3375 How did you feel when you won Latina
Beauty Queen?
ERCIA I
was extremely excited and it was the best experience of my life! It
opened up so many doors for me into many different areas of the
entertainment industry.
3375 How did winning Latina Beauty Queen contest impact your life?
ERCIA It
had a huge impact on my life since it opened so many opportunities
for me. I was featured on the front cover of Latin Connection
Magazine, newspapers, radio interviews and worked with numerous
charities which I really enjoyed. I was shy as a child and competing
in beauty pageants was not something I had an interest for until my
mom enrolled me in my first beauty pageant at a local mall. I
started out as a dancer at age 3. Pageantry started at age 14 when my
mom signed me up for a local beauty pageant at the mall and I won my
first pageant and made it to nationals. I always considered myself a
winner even when I didn’t win a crown because to me pageantry has
never been about winning a crown but the experience and standing in
front of such a huge audience to compete considered me a winner and I
would compete for myself and thought of myself as my only
competition.
3375 Who inspires you?
ERCIA My
mom inspires me. She has always been my hero and has instilled
confidence and motivation that inspires me. She taught me to be
resilient and never give up.
3375 What role does your family play in your success?
ERCIA My
family has always been very supportive of my career. They play a
huge role in my success and have given me the motivation to move
forward in my success. I am blessed to have such a supportive family.
3375 Tell
us about college and what you major in?
ERCIA College is
my tool to success and education to me is a plus no matter what field
of study you’re in. I have an Associate Degree in Computer Science
and I am majoring in Multimedia Journalism and Film Production with a
minor in Public Relations.
3375 Can you teach me how to ice skate?
ERCIA Of course I can teach you
how to ice skate. lol
3375 Talk about the TV shows and movies you appear in.
ERCIA I appeared
in shows such as “El Show de Las 12” on Telemundo in Puerto Rico,
A commercial spot for Miss Puerto Rico World in 2000, a cereal
commercial for Barbizon Modeling Agency, the movie Wuthering Heights
as a featured extra, Havanna Nights as a featured extra, Step Up to
the Streets as a featured extra and Step Up Revolution as a featured
extra.
3375 How did you feel working with music artist Pitbull on the Dr. Pepper
ERCIA Wow!
Working with Pitbull on the Dr. Pepper commercial was such an amazing
experience. I was really excited and it was the experience of a
lifetime.
3375 You do a lot of charity work for a lot of organization. Why are these
specific organizations important to you?
ERCIA These
specific charity organizations are important to my because they have
taught me to be thankful and appreciate everything I have
accomplished in my life. Each charity organization is an inspiration
in my life and has taught me many lessons in many ways. For that
reason is why I enjoy being a role model for the young generation who
looks up to me and inspire young girls and woman in the world.
3375 With everything you have achieved, you also host on online TV Show for LCTV?
ERCIA Yes!
With so many of my amazing achievements, I am so excited to be
working with such a great team and working as a host for Latin
Connection TV.
3375 What is your greatest accomplishment?
ERCIA I would have to say my greatest
accomplishment has been graduating from college.
3375 What next for Erica?
ERCIA Erica
will continue working as a TV host since she enjoys it has a great
personality! Working in the Spanish TV network, she hopes to host her
own entertainment TV show and own a modeling agency. She will also
continue to work with various charity organizations since it’s her
passion and she enjoys helping others.
3375 How can we find you online?
http://www.faceboo.com/latinaprdiva
http://www.twitter.com/latinaprdiva
3375 Do you have any shout outs?
ERCIA Yes
I sure do. I’d like to thank God first because without him I
wouldn’t be where I am today.
My
mom for all of her continued support, my family, friends and fans for
their continued support.Thank you for reading! Please leave a comment and let us know what you think!
