World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to welcome amazing Queen Sheyla Ravelo Perez Miss Earth Cuba 2022.
Full name: Sheyla Ravelo Perez
Title/Year: Miss Earth Cuba 2022
Pageant System: Miss Earth
Age: 22
Zodiac sign: Virgo
Hobbies: Swimming, dancing, weightlifting, reading, and solving jigsaw puzzles.
Platform: Conservation & combatting fashion overconsumption in the pageantry
Years competed: 1
Countries visited: Cuba, Bahamas, Mexico
Likes: Animals, spending time in nature, spending time with loved ones, and playing
Animal Crossing
Dislikes: People who take themselves too seriously
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Please tell us about yourself.
I’m currently a senior entering my last semester at the University of Florida. My major is health education with a specialization in Health Studies and a premed track. I’ve been an athlete all my life and competed in five sports growing up: swimming, cross-country, wrestling, weightlifting, and track & field. While I no longer compete, I still participate in swimming and weightlifting recreationally and am a registered swimmer with Swim Across America, a nonprofit organization that hosts charity swims to fund cancer research and patient programs. My favorite subject is Chemistry and I have served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for the University of Florida’s Chemistry Department since my freshman year.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What does women Empowerment means to you?
To me, women empowerment means bolstering the confidence of and uplifting other women. Only through supporting and uplifting one another can we create actionable change and make strides towards a more equitable world.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your pageant history.
I began competing in pageants when I was 11 years old. I lost two pageants in a row before deciding to take a year off to prepare and ended up winning my first pageant back! I briefly retired after competing in the Miss Florida Teen USA 2018 pageant to focus on college but reentered the pageant world last year. Miss Earth Cuba is by far my largest title to date and I’m so excited to represent my home country at the upcoming international pageant.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What inspired you to do your first pageant?
My older sister, Chabeli, inspired me to compete in my first pageant. She had entered one on a whim and ended up winning! Over the course of her reign, I would tag along at all of her events and really looked up to her. Once I was finally old enough to compete in the Jr. Miss division, I wasted no time signing up!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Why did you choose to compete for your current title?
I chose to compete for the title of Miss Earth Cuba because Miss Earth’s platform of environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility really resonated with me. I’ve long since been an advocate for conservation and switching to renewable energy and saw this title to further the environmental causes I was already working on.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: To those unfamiliar with your pageant system please tell us what is it about?
Miss Earth is a major international beauty pageant that advocates for environmental awareness, conservation, and social responsibility. It is the third-largest beauty pageant in the world in terms of the number of national-level competitions to participate in the world finals.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are you being judged on during the competition?
Delegates are judged with their intelligence and their knowledge on environmental issues and policies comprising 30% of the total score while the remaining criteria are as follows: 35% for beauty and knowledge, 20% form and figure, 10% poise, and 5% attitude.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your experience during the competition.
Competing for this title was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had in pageantry. My fellow contestants and I really hit it off, currently have a group chat, and talk every single day.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about your platform or what cause do you volunteer for.
I’m a climate and sustainability activist and have partnered with Queenly as a brand ambassador to combat fashion overconsumption in pageantry and regularly participate in beach cleanups to combat the pollution of local waterways. I also champion the conservation of Cuba’s endemic species and will be starting a TikTok series highlighting them to increase public knowledge of conservation efforts.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What appearances have you done with your title?
To date, I’ve done several appearances including local beach cleanups with the Virginia Key Outdoor Center, cooking and serving lunch at the Ronald McDonald House, and attending Miami Swim Week.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are some of your achievements?
I have earned a near perfect GPA of 3.94 and will be graduating from the University of Florida with honors this coming fall semester.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is your on-stage strategy to win the judges over?
I plan to win the judges over by being myself and allowing my bubbly personality to shine through onstage.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What makes you stand out from all those other beautiful girls?
I believe the reason I won is because the stars aligned for me that night and it was my time to win, not because I possess something the other women didn’t. All my fellow competitors were and are just as deserving of the title as I was and am.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Tell us about the moment your name was called out as the winner.
After initially hearing my name, I didn’t understand that I had won, and it took a few moments for it to really set in. Once I had processed what just happened, I was elated!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What does it mean to you to be a Beauty Queen?
To me, being a beauty queen means being a role model for young women to look up to. This responsibility is not one I take lightly, and I always strive to ensure that I set a good example.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did competing in pageants helped your life?
Competing in pageants has allowed me to develop both personally and professionally. Competing gives me a reason to stay in shape and has afforded me with ample networking opportunities as well as allowed me to practice my interview skills.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did pageants helped your self-esteem and body
image?
Pageants have helped my self-esteem and body image by humanizing the women I used to look up to growing up. It’s one thing to compare yourself to women on a screen but meeting them in person and competing alongside them makes you realize you aren’t so different after all.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: You are an inspiration to all the girls out there. How does it feel?
Being an inspiration to others is not a responsibility I take lightly. I feel incredibly privileged and honored to be where I am.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for learning better pageant walk?
My main tip is to practice on tile in front of the mirror so you can use the grout lines as a guide to walk straight and watch yourself as you do it. I also find it helpful to wear your pageant shoes out often so that you adequately break them in before the competition. Strut everywhere you go!
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for choosing right pageant dress?
Above all else, you must feel comfortable walking in the gown. The gown could be gorgeous but if it’s difficult to walk in, it’s not for you.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your tips for winning interview?
Really get to know yourself before the interview. Make sure you’re clear on your stances and most importantly, be yourself, after all the judges are people too.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: How did you prepare for your competition?
I prepared for my competition by taking any opportunity to practice in my heels and getting to know myself by journaling prior to the competition.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What is one mistake that you've done during competing you wish you could redo and fix it?
In the past I’ve gotten caught on trying to become the kind of girl I thought the judges wanted rather than just being my authentic self. Not only has this undoubtedly cost me a title before, but it was also a disservice to myself to try and be someone I’m not.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What other mistakes are made by girls during the
contest?
The most common mistake I see is trying to fit into the ideal of the “perfect pageant girl” rather than being yourself.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: Any modeling or acting experience?
I have modeled in several runway shows and am currently in negotiations for a modeling contract with an agency in New York.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What are your plans for 2022/2023 as a Queen?
My plan is to do all I can to bring home Cuba’s first Miss Earth title.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I want to leave behind a legacy of hard work and kindness wherever I go. I want to make people feel cherished, encouraged, and accepted when I meet them.
International Director: Lorraine Schuck
National director: Nuestra Belleza Nacional Cuba
Pageant website: http://www.missearth.tv
Name of the Photographer and other credits Tapanes Photography World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to say thank you for this amazing interview! Interview by Derek Tokarzewski Owner/Editor in Chief of World Class Beauty Queens Magazine.
Sheyla Ravelo Perez Miss Earth Cuba 2022, World Class Beauty Queens Magazine, Photo by Tapanes Photography
Interview by Derek Tokarzewski Owner/Editor in Chief Mr United Nations 2018 Platform: Women Empowerment Ambassador to International Foundation for Orphans iffocares.org
World Class Pageants, Fashion Modeling, Film and Music magazines.
Miss WorldClass and WorldClass Ambassadors.
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine Facebook link.
Titles are for one year but Covers are for Ever! Dreams do come true with World Class Pageant Magazines. 96 print pageant magazines and our amazing Cover Girls.
