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On March 6, 2009 OperaOnline.us publisher Paul Joseph Walkowski (L) hosted Ms. Giovana Guzman, Miss New England Teen Belleza Latina (L), Attorney William Connolly (C), Ms. Weida Henderson, Miss New England Belleza Latina (R), and Mr. Juan Lopez (R), at a performance of Teatro Lirico D'Europa's Cavalleria Rusticana/ I Pagliacci at the Cutler Majestic Theater in Boston.

The Belleza Latina offers young women the opportunity to nurture their social contacts and engange in various civic activities. Regional winners hope to reach the finals in June of 2009, and must attend, at minimum, fifteen events during the year. Ms. Henderson, a married, working mother of three, and employee of RTN Federal Credit Union in Waltham, MA., said that she is working with "Latinos en accion de Waltham Mass." a local community organization that raises money for school books. "I also enjoy working with LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens), that raises money for the scholarship fund for Latinos." Her goal now she said, is to find a $1,000 sponsor she needs to enter the nationals.

One project, in particular, that is close to her heart is participating in the Jimmy Fund walk. "I have family members from this disease (cancer). I also have family members that are still fighting it now." A cousin of hers, Dariana, whom she describes as her role model, died of Lukemia at age 16. "My goal is to win the pageant and bring the crown to Massachusetts. If I win I will hold my head up high and say, Dariana, I did it for you."

Regarding her first night at the opera, Ms. Henderson said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience. "There were times that I had goose bumps, because I have never heard anyone sing so loud. They [the singers] made me feel happiness, sadness and their pain, all by their voices. I would love to see another one again."

Miss Teen New England Belleza Latina, is 16-year old Giovana Guzman. Born and raised in Boston, she lives with her family in Dedham, Massachusetts. A sophomore at Dedham High School, Ms. Guzman said when she graduates she will pursue the study of law in college. "I want to become a lawyer. That's my goal in life."

Like her counterpart, Henderson, Ms. Guzman said her job as Miss Teen New England Belleza Latina is "to expose my title and culture to the larger community so that other people will be interested in what we're about."

As part of her extracurricular activities, Ms. Guzman said she enjoys working with her local church group "helping with groceries and other chores. I do it to help and expose my title," which -- as it turns out -- is how she ended up at the Cutler Majestic Theater in full gown and crown. This was her first opera, too, and it was an experience she said she also fully enjoyed. "Honestly, it was an amazing experience," she said in a telephone interview with OperaOnline.us, "It was beautiful and the singers were so talented. I think I would be very interested in attending again in my future and finding out more about its meaning."

For now, though, both young women are focused on the nationals, finding a sponsor and competing with others to carry the national title back to Massachusetts.

For those who attended Teatro Lirico D'Europa's double feature at the Cutler Majestic on March 6th, the title winners accomplished their mission easily and with grace and charm. Audience members gathered around as photographs were taken in front of the main stage. "What lovely young women," one elderly patron sitting up front commented as she snapped a photo or two herself. Others exchanged cards, and all were captivated by the beauty and charm and warm, inviting personalities of these two most inspiring and fascinating women.