She was born in Santo Domingo but 19-year old Yaritza Reyes represented the land of her grand parents, Elias Pina, in the Miss Dominican Republic contest. She is a graduate in nursing, and is a student of social communications at the state university UASD. She has worked as a professional model and as an English teacher. She said she will take a break from her studies to prepare for the Miss Universe contest. She explained in an interview with El Caribe that she had entered the contest because she saw it as a springboard to achieve her goals in life. But her major problem was in finding sponsorship. She was able to enter after one contestant who had registered and paid the fee declined.
Reyes is the younger of four brothers and sisters. Her mother is a psychologist, her father a businessman.
She said she has never traveled abroad. Her first trip could be to the Miss Universe in Moscow, 9 November.
“I want to use this position to focus on our country, to show how diverse it is. Our island is beautiful and I want to tell people about that. That people can get to know our geography, history, culture, gastronomy… but that has to be done working together,” she told El Caribe in an interview.
Read more about her in the thread on her in DR1 Forums at http://dr1.com/forums/living/136394-yaritza-reyes-wins-2013-miss-dominican-republic-pageant.html