My Journey in Entertainment

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My name is Theresa Velazquez, Dr. World Puerto Rico 2022, and holding many other titles with other pageants starting in 1977. My journey in entertainment started while performing in my elementary schools annual Easter and Christmas Productions where I danced and sang.

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In the 1970s

During High School years I enjoyed participating in school dance competitions, and I danced the popular Disco Hustle and won with my partner. I was also the Annual Fashion Show Director for the school raising a lot of money for charity. After being nominated as “Best Looking” in High School, and winning my mom decided she would sign me up for a beauty pageant! I decided to sign up for singing classes with Dr. Robert Gansert, at Carnegie Hall in New York. I won the International Miss 5 Boroughs Pageant in New York in 1977. With my celebrity status the pageant gave me the opportunity to do live shows on Channel 2, “Pachito Cordero Show” with Eddie Muro and Miss Universe 1976 from Puerto Rico, Marisol Malaret; “Club del Hogar”, Channel 2 in Mexico; “Cambia Cambia Show” Channel 11 in Puerto Rico; “Showtime” Channel 47 in Puerto Rico; “Joe Franklin Show,” Channel 9 in New York; “Siempre En Domingo,” Channel 2 with Raul Velasco; “24 Hour News” with Lic Jacobo Zubludovski; “Perez Prado Show” (he dedicated his show to me as Miss International 5 Boroughs 1977). I was also in many newspaper articles in Mexico, Puerto Rico, and New York for winning the pageant, and modeled for “Latina New York” magazine.

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In the 1980s

I then attended the Academy of Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California. My teachers were Greg Mulavey of “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," and Tippie Hendren of “The Birds.” I also modeled at a Fashion Show for The Children of India Charity where Muhammed Ali was guest speaker for the Children of India. I was hired as a model for a boutique owner from Beverly Hills while at the fashion show. I also participated as an extra in “Irreconcilable Differences” with Ryan O’Neal and Shelley Long. The movie was released in 1984.

While teaching ballroom dancing from 1984 to 1988, I met celebrities like Eddie Vega and Lisa Nunziella (winners of Star Search in the 80s) in Las Vegas where I was personally invited to attend their show. I have done some traveling since 1984 to the present in the U.S. and Canada teaching and creating choreography in ballroom, lyrical, and jazz dance styles.

In 1988, I gave birth to my daughter, Jessica, and decided to stay with my mother and dad in New York. During this time, I decided to audition for movies, and participated as an extra in “East Side Story” with Marc Anthony (famous singer), and Iris Chacon (famous dancer singer from Puerto Rico).

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In the 1990s

After, I decided to continue teaching ballroom dancing professionally, and was awarded many first places at the National Dance Council of America (NDCA) DanceSport competitions with students and professional dance partner, Juan Cabral; Juan had his award winning cable show on Channel 6 in Mountain View and Channel 15A “Dance On The Town” where we did shows. I also had a community channel “Let’s Dance,” show on TCI Cable Community Channel 6. I was also a model at Neiman Marcus,and Magic Fashions, as well as, many newspaper articles for dancing Lambada very popular in the 90s. During these years I was also with the nonprofit Sunnyvale Singers performing 2 concerts annually.

I continued to teach ballroom dancing professionally where I met and have communicated with celebrities and friends such as Cheryl Burke, Jonathan Roberts, Robin Horn, Alex Hawkins, Joudaine and Krauel, Chris Morris, Dennis Lyle, Mr. Villalobos, Mark Scolieri, Ron Montez and many others. Also, Arthur Murray President, John Kimmins, helped me in my research study at the University of Phoenix on “The Health Issues and the Benefits of DanceSport.” I enjoyed writing my book for a Doctorates in Management and Leadership (DM).

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In the 2000s

I continued to participate in beauty and talent pageants winning several more titles that includes Ms. World Elite Lady 2003 People’s Choice, Ms. Pageant Gal International 2004, Ms. International Elite 2004, Ms. Universal Gem 2004, World’s Classic Ms. Puerto Rico Tourism 2018, World’s Classic Ms. Tourism 219, World’s Classic Ms. Tourism Divisional Grand 2019, World’s Ms. Tourism Internet 2019, World Ms. Tourism Fashion Model 2019, World’s Ms. Tourism United National 2019, World’s Ms. Global Tourism, World Ms. Tourism Creative Model 2019, World’s Ms. Tourism Cover Model, World’s Tourism Super Model 2019, Ms. Hollywood 2019, World’s Tourism Ms. Broadway 2019, Worlds Ms. Tourism Legacy 2020 & 2022, World’s Classic Ms. Universe Tourism ‘20 to ‘21 and ‘21to ‘22.

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While taking classes at John Robert Powers school, I was asked to model at a fashion show for charity with Eddie Lambert (Anchorwoman for KCRA), and Andre Andre Agassi (famous tennis player). I continued to teach dancing at the community centers from 1998 to 2020, do choreography for students and friends in the Nutcracker Production, and choreography for my friend, Gaby Muro, with the Miss America pageant system. Gaby Muro performed my lyrical dance routine, and won the Miss San Joaquin Asparagus Pageant. This included doing choreography for my granddaughters who are former Princesses with the Miss America Pageant system. I also attended Delta College at the Radio & TV Department where I learned how to create videos and audios for projects starting my own Velazquez Productions company. At Delta College, I participated in the Multi Media Scholarship and Awards Festivals, and won awards for my singing. I love singing and have participated in choirs, such as Sunnyvale Singers (in the 90s), Delta’s Singers Choir, Stockton Symphony with Maestro Jaffe, and currently in the Stockton Singers Choir. Presenting classical and contemporary choral music. My classmates and I started one of the first community radio shows on the licensed nonprofit KWDC 93.5FM in Stockton California; the show also won awards at the Multi Media Festivals. The name of our radio show was “Women Innovators Network,” (formerly Delta’s View). KWDC 93.5FM radio is still on today. At the Radio & TV department, my workshop teachers and mentors were Marsha Posner Williams, producer of “The Brady Bunch,” and “Golden Girls,” and Rick Page videographer for “Brooklyn Nine Nine”.

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After, I completed an internship at KCRA-TV3, and my mentors in the California newsrooms were Edie Lambert, Lisa Gonzales, Dierdre Fitzpatrick and many others that included meteorologists, producers, writers, editors, camerapersons and executives. After this internship and speaking on television for practice I wanted to have my own radio and television shows! While at the World Tourism pageant in 2017, where I have participated in the modeling, singing, dancing, and drama categories I met my friend, Dawn Reese. Dawn and I talked casually about our fun experiences participating in pageants, film, and music festivals. Shortly after, she invited me to participate on her radio and tv show “Hollywood Connections,” where she interviews celebrities at many red carpet events. The celebrities included Donny Most “Happy Day”; Barry Williams “Brady Bunch”; Robert Davi “Profiler”; Bo Derek Movie “10”; Earl Christy “New York Jets Football” Player and Celebrity; Forbes Riley (mostly known for selling more than $2 billion dollars worth of health & fitness products on TV via infomercials and Live Home Shopping (HSN & QVC); Ricky Teal (of the movie “Buttons” with Dick VanDyke, Angela Lansbury, and Jane Seymour); Stephen Campbell (“Walking Dead” Director of Photography); Jalbert Brothers (with Jalbert Productions, who are producers, videographers, directors & actors); Jared Knowles (Indie Wise Founder and Owner); Mario Della Casa (Creator of “I Dream of Jeannie” Bottles); and many others. Dawn asked me if I wanted to do the Pageant Reporter Hollywood Connections show and I agreed. Since then I have had many celebrities on my Pageant Reporter Hollywood Connections Radio and Television Show that include pageant queens, film producers, singers, musicians, actors, authors, scriptwriters, festival directors, and others. The show is now nominated 4 times at the red carpet Christian Film and Music Festival. I have won for “Best Reporter Worldwide” at the red carpet Indie Wise Film & Music Festival with Hollywood Royalty, Vivica Fox, of the movie “Independence Day” (alien movie) with Will Smith. I also won for “Best Reporter” at the Jalbert Brothers film festival. I enjoy singing and decided to submit my music videos to the International Christian Film Festival in 2019 and 2020. I received two “Official Selections” for my songs “Omnipresent Lord,” and “God He Is” where the general audience and celebrities, such as actors, film producers and film directors viewed my videos. Hollywood Connections is with VH2 networks serving 3.5 million Atlanta, regional homes. It’s city of license is Atlanta that transmits digital TV on physical RF channel 16 and over 16 million households thru their cable channel, Roku. 24flix.com. Hollywood Connections 106.1FM, has shows at 5pm (PST) www.tantalknetwork.com on live radio, then goes to www.24flix.com and www.Vh2.tv

 

It has been an amazing journey for me, and I will continue to enjoy every step of it. To me it’s about the journey and the wonderful memories.