The universe at her feet
"I will always take special pride (in) acknowledging my Hispanic heritage, so my victory stands as a tribute to all Latina women. I enjoyed taking part in the Miss Universe competition. It has opened up unparalleled access to wonderful people, exotic places, and to worthy causes. - Amelia Vega
"I will always take special pride (in) acknowledging my Hispanic heritage, so my victory stands as a tribute to all Latina women. I enjoyed taking part in the Miss Universe competition. It has opened up unparalleled access to wonderful people, exotic places, and most importantly, to worthy causes. I feel honored to be involved with HIV/AIDS organizations such as The Global Health Council and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. They are three of the many organizations that I will work with to continue my work for international health programs."- Amelia Vega
(in an interview withwww.soyunica.gov)
Amelia Vega, who captured the audience during the 2003 Miss Universe competition, is a statuesque 18-year-old of vivacious nature. Her incredible energy and personality won over the judges during the live NBC telecast held in Panama City, Panama on June 3, 2003. Amelia's move from the Dominican Republic to New York City, where she once resided as a student in Queens was a sweet reunion. This time around, Amelia worked as a goodwill ambassador for women around the world by representing the Miss Universe Organization.
Amelia Vega: A snapshot
Occupation: Miss Universe 2003.
Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6' 1"
Life Before The Crown
Before putting on the crown, Amelia completed her high school studies and was planning to earn a degree in television production. In the future, Amelia also hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a singer. With a demo single already completed, Amelia is working on her first CD. In addition to singing, a few of Amelia's loves are sushi, her dachshund puppy named Weenie, and dancing the merengue.
Amelia's Family
Amelia's father is a general medical practitioner with offices in New York City and Miami; and her mother, a previous Miss Dominican Republic titleholder with a fondness for flying, has recently received her pilot's license. She has a very close relationship with her parents and is a mentor to her half-sister. In addition to her parents, Amelia considers her grandmother and uncle Juan Luis Guerra, an author and Grammy Award-winning Latin musician, amongst her idols.
During the competition, she was asked to name the greatest influence in her life. Amelia proudly explained that her grandmother has been her inspiration, before adding, "One of the most important moments of my life was when I wrote a letter to my grandmother while she was sick. There, I expressed all my love and gratitude for her unconditional love." With that response, she won the hearts of all the judges.
Her Work as Miss Universe
As Miss Universe 2003, Vega travelled extensively working with internationally recognized AIDS/HIV organizations, including the Global Health Council, the Harvard AIDS Institute, AmFAR, and the Center for Disease Control's "Act Now" campaign. As a "celebrity" spokesperson, she was responsible for working with the media globally to generate a better understanding and acceptance of AIDS and HIV and its prevention; while helping increase awareness, funding and resources for these key organizations.
While finishing her high school degree, 18-year-old Amelia has already recorded a demo and is working on her first CD. "Music is a direct way to communicate with people without any race or ideological differences." Her ambition is to become an internationally recognized singer like her uncle, Juan Luis Guerra, a composer and singer who won numerous international awards including a Grammy. Amelia has filmed a series of public service messages for television about taking care of her city, the environment and history called "As It Should Be."
Source: Miss Universe LP, LLLP