By: Carolina Cruz
Wearing a beautiful long, red dress with bright sparkles, a fancy tiara and a smile that lights up the room, Corina Perez a 15-year-old Hispanic girl walks into the fifth floor of the Marriott hotel in Chicago expecting a spectacular night to remember.
Last weekend, Perez was the young girl from Chicago who celebrated her Quinceañero with all expenses paid with the famous Puerto Rican artist Daddy Yankee as the guest of honor plus earned a college scholarship after winning the contest ‘My Fabulous 15’ sponsored by Verizon.
Through an essay contest, a group of panelists selected 20 teens from each participating city, and once the finalists were selected people voted to choose a one grand prizewinner and four first prizewinners.
Perez hardly could find the words to describe the happiness she felt the day she found out her Quinceañero dream would come true. “When they called me in and I came and they told me I won I was like what?! I just want to thank Verizon for helping me create my perfect day and Daddy Yankee is here and I love Daddy Yankee,” said Perez with a smile from cheek to cheek.
Yankee decided to participate in ‘My Fabulous Quince’ after finding out the project from Verizon helps young women to create that special day with all expenses paid, plus a college scholarship for the winner. This motivated Yankee to get involved because he considered it a good cause.
“It’s a very special day that she will never forget, is something historic in her life and I’m happy that as time goes by Daddy Yankee will be reflected in her life,” said the rapper as he smiled for the cameras.
Perez’s parents, Silvia and Jesus Perez, both from Mexican decent were just as excited for her as she was for having Daddy Yankee in her party.
For them this experience would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the sponsor’s help. Initially, according to Silvia and Jesus, their financial situation had made them choose Perez’s education over her 15-birthday party. She attends Saint Ignatius College Prep, which is a private high school. However, as her dad Jesus said, “She deserves this and she is a very good girl.”
“Since she was a little girl she knows what she wants to do with her life and she studies really hard. Plus, she is very intelligent so I expect many good things from her,” said Silvia her mother in regards to Corina plans for the future after taking this big step in her adolescence.
Perez says she wants to attend the California Institute of the Arts after graduating from high school. “I have a dream to become a filmmaker and I’ve been working in some script writing trying to get into some technology and movie making classes and I’m hopeful for the future. This is an excellent start,” were Perez’s remarks.
Meanwhile, Yankee’s latest CD ‘Prestige’ has been a ‘winner album’ as the rapper says. “I have no doubt that it is the best record we’ve thrown in my career. It is very successful and as the fans say from start to finish, it’s just perfect.” For more information about Yankee new projects visit his website www.daddyyankee.com.
