VENEZUELA: Vanessa Peretti a deaf and mute contestant in Miss Venezuela beauty pageant hopes to represent her country.

As Venezuela's top beauties prepare for the 2006 Miss Venezuela pageant on September 14, one contestant stands out. Vanessa Peretti shares good looks and bone structure with her fellow contestants but is also deaf and mute. Peretti participates in all rehearsals and coaching classes with the help of a sign language interpreter. The successful 20-year-old model who is spokesperson the Venezuelan Association for the Deaf and Blind said she was surprised when chosen to represent Sucre state. "He (Osmel Souza, President of Miss Venezuela Organisation) came and gave me the sash and I was very surprised and really felt like crying and I was very nervous, but I told myself 'no, I have to control myself, I am in Miss Venezuela, thank God' and well, I really tried to control myself," she said. Peretti, who is a role model for other people with disabilities, uses the latest auditory prosthesis and a training program run by the Venezuelan Association for the Deaf and Blind which together allow her to hear certain sounds and interpret them correctly. She said her disability does not impair her ability to compete. "It doesn't make it difficult for me, this is very easy, the dance classes, the catwalk classes rather it bores me to wait while my colleagues do these things, and for me it really is easy," she explained. The winner of the pageant will represent Venezuela in the 2007 Miss Universe Pageant. Venezuela has won four Miss Universe and five Miss World titles.

ITN Source | September 9, 2006

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