For 13-year-old Michelle Sanchez, representing Puerto Rico in 海角换妻 means holding on to her culture.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important to know where I came from, or where my family originated from, especially that, since I go to Puerto Rico every summer,鈥� she said.
Sanchez is one of seven girls of Puerto Rican descent participating this weekend in a cultural pageant. Hartford鈥檚 annual Puerto Rican Parade is in search of this year鈥檚 Miss Puerto Rico of Greater Hartford.
Each participant will represent their family鈥檚 local town on the island.
Sanchez will be representing her grandparents鈥� hometown of Comerio, Puerto Rico.
鈥淚 love to learn the history of my town,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I think this pageant helps that.鈥�
For weeks, she and other participants have been preparing cultural wardrobes, learning about their towns鈥� history and polishing up their 鈥渢alentos tipicos,鈥� or traditional talents.
鈥淚t鈥檚 worth mentioning that this is not a beauty pageant, but rather a cultural one,鈥� pageant director Ellie Joya said. 鈥淲hat we do is help the young girls to learn about their Puerto Rican culture.鈥�
Since the start of the pandemic, the pageant has been interrupted. For decades, organizers have put together large-scale pageants to engage Puerto Rican youth. Now, with fewer COVID restrictions, these participants will show off their talents and knowledge onstage.
Sanchez has prepared an acting skit about Christmas in Puerto Rico for her talent showcase.
鈥淲hen you look at me, it鈥檚 obvious that I鈥檓 a little 鈥榗af茅 con leche,鈥� so let鈥檚 just get the elephant out of the room,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have found it so fun in my 13 long years of living to be both 鈥榙ominicana and puertorrique帽a鈥�!鈥�
Learn more
This weekend鈥檚 is Saturday, June 11, at 11 a.m. at the Theater of the Performing Arts in Hartford.
