Always fun to hang out with a le
royalty on the Fox 61 Morning N.
We've got 2 princesses 2
Queens in training here.
Want you to say hi to Miss Connecticut
USA and Miss Connecticut Teen U.
They were both crowned recently.
Carla Aponte Roca is Miss
Connecticut USA to her right.
You're no, you're right.
My left. Thank you.
I know my left from my right, wh
should should be part of the competition.
That's Jade Fernandan over ther.
Nice to see you, ladies.
Nice to see you.
All right, so this happened whe?
By the way, the competition was this week.
Yes, finals were on Sunday.
So 6-7 days later,
has anybody slept?
No.
I don't know what
sleep is. All I know is that
a pot of coffee has been on my
hand the whole time.
I would bet sleep has been lack,
but the smile has not worn off.
What's it like when it when
they announce your name?
That you, you're the big winner.
You know, you've kind of
practiced it in your head becaue
if you think it, it'll occur.
So in my mind, I was thinking of
the most beautiful smile of tha.
I can't believe it.
And if you look back on the vid,
my mouth is wide open.
I could not believe it.
Looking back now, I'm like, wow,
I really could have just closed it and smile.
But your emotions get the
best of you because you just
work so hard for this moment.
But it's natural, right?
And that smile is absolutely genuine,
I would bet. Sure what? What?
What did you do to Prep?
Tell Take us through the
last year to in getting up to
this wonderful title. Yes.
So I definitely believe you should be
very involved with your community and get
to know what your community really needs
and also be able to connect with others.
Because with that you get to len
so much and also by yourself.
But also, I think for me,
I really focus in on the mental prep.
It's a big thing you want to.
Be prepared to be,
you know in the best mental state for this
type of position in this opportunity.
Sure, absolutely.
And and you're no stranger
to the competition to the
competitive circuit as well.
What what were the things that
that you think work to your,
I don't want to say advantage
because that's to say that that
others weren't as good as you
but you obviously you got over
the top what what what did it.
I think it was having a positive mindset.
Every time that I went before
or after being on stage,
I had some meditation,
listening to some calming musicd
trying to be as present as I could be.
It was my last year being able to compete
because I'm 27 and that is the cutoff.
And so for me, it was just,
I wanted to remember every single moment
and second because I won't get it back.
And that leads to a great final
part for this interview. You kn,
it's it's so much more if you don't know.
It's so much more than just that, you know.
Looking pretty having a perfect smile.
Your platform is everything when it comes
to the Miss Connecticut the USA competition.
So tell us briefly about what yr
platform are the men and how its
affected younger women who are looking
up to you and will be for the next year.
Yes, so my platform has
everything to do with health.
I'm actually a registered nurse
and work at Yale New Haven Healh
Hospital little plugin especialo
my coworkers and I'm not there y
and so making sure to be mindfu.
That health has so many and
encompasses so many aspects,
not just your physical,
mental and emotional health.
That's something that I strive o
advocate for within my own life,
personal and will be doing with
the title of Miss Connecticut.
USA is bringing that to the forefront
and that's similar to the
career path you want to go into
in the medical field, right?
Yes. What was your platform?
So my platform actually was a gw
empowerment and I use this page
to really target any girls that.
They're struggling with low self esteem.
As somebody who struggled
with low self esteem myself,
I really want to make a platform
where I put affirmations out
there that actually helped me
to gain a better self and also
gain confidence within myself
and you know what And here's the
thing and and and Carla and I mt
a number of months ago at an ev.
This is the first time we're beg
and I said during the break this
what impressed me most about he.
The fact that that influence tht
you have on younger women lookig
up to you as a father of a teene
daughter I know exactly of or o.
Much what it is that that teenage girls go
through and it is as a father it's scary.
I can't imagine what it's like.
So thank you for the good that
you're doing win or lose.
But we know you're going to winn
you go to Miss USA which we dont
know what it's going to be righ.
We don't It's a big surprise
for everybody. They're
going to give you advance
notice right. Go call me
the day before and say
what are you doing Tuesday.
Exactly ladies continued success nice
to see you and and thank you fo.
For. Letting me know that
clearly read choice for today.
We'll be docking points from
the future scores for that.