MISS GAINESVILLE TEEN USA 2009:  NATALIE MARTINEZ

Greetings Everyone! 

Let me start by thanking you for reading my auto-biography and supporting me in all my endeavors. Now, here is a little about me…

I am a fifth generation Floridian and native of Hamilton County, Florida. Hamilton County is exactly 75 miles North of Gainesville. Being home to the Suwannee River and Stephen Foster Memorial Park, I’m sure you could have guessed that I love the water and outdoors. I could spend every day on the river fishing, grilling out, and making memories to last a lifetime. I also love to sing, write songs, dance, and play around on instruments such as the guitar and piano.

Other than being involved in music and the outdoors, I am an avid philanthropist. I began volunteering in the 3^rd grade as a peer facilitator to younger children. In the 5^th grade I was a traffic cop and by the time I was a teenager I was raising money for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Annabelle’s Wish, American Cancer Society, and many other non-profit organizations. This has brought me to where I am today. I am the founder and president of C.N.N.S., Children’s National Network Society, Inc. which raises awareness for all children’s organizations, regardless of the cause. In April, I organized and led a Basketball Tournament and B-B-Q which raised over $12,000 for the Ronald McDonald House in Macon, GA. In early Fall I plan to start more annual fundraisers such as a C.N.N.S. Play Day, Scholarship Pageant, and Fishing Tournament. By January 2010, my goal is to have a C.N.N.S. Scholarship Foundation which will give scholarship money to adolescents who have achieved excellence in volunteering.

I am currently a Senior at Valdosta State University where I will be graduating with a degree in Public Relations and minor in Mass Media. Upon graduation, I plan to attend UF to pursue a Doctorate of Communications. I am a member of Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society and Alpha Delta Pi Sorority where I am the Philanthropy Chair. I am also very active in my church, First Baptist Church of Jasper, and in the lives of my nephew, Nicholas, who is 5 years old, and my new niece, Sophie, who is 5 months. 

Please feel free to add me as a friend on myspace at www.myspace.com/victoriaratliff and look for my original songs to be posted shortly.

Once again, thank you for all your support!

Loyally,

Victoria Ratliff,

Miss Gainesville USA

Meet Natalie...

Hello Everyone! I’m Natalie Martinez. I’m fifteen years old and a freshman at Columbia High School in Lake City. I’m so excited about being Miss Gainesville Teen USA 2009. I know the title and crown will give me an opportunity to be a positive role model to others. I’m ready to start preparing for the Miss Florida Teen USA Pageant. I’m looking forward to working with Chelsee and my new sister queens.

School keeps me busy. I have a 4.0 GPA in all honors classes. Good grades come first. I’m a social person and love to be involved. I belong to Interact Club, Fellow Christian Athletes Club, Journalism Club, and Television Productions Club. I will be the Vice-President of the sophomore class next year. I just made the JV cheerleading squad for the second year.

In my spare time I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, reading, working out and photography. My career goals are to work on my AA degree while in high school. I want to attend the University of Florida and get a degree in pediatric dentistry. I love kids!

I would like to thank several people for all their help. The first thanks goes to God. I believe without him nothing is possible. One of my favorite bible verses is Phil 4:6 “worry about nothing but instead pray about everything”. This is a motto I try to live my life by. Next, I want to thank my family and friends for all their support. A special thank you goes to Lori Duncan for all her advice. I can’t forget Chelsee for making all this possible. I’m ready to start preparing to represent Gainesville. I know this will be a year I’ll never forget. I can’t wait to make memories that will last forever! GO GATORS!!

With much love,

Natalie Martinez

Miss Gainesville Teen USA 2009


Past Gainesville USA/ Teen USA Titleholders...

                                    Nikki Rhodes                                   Lauren Harmon                                                       Miss Gainesville USA 2008          Miss Gainesville Teen USA 2008