Houston's Valeria Gonzalez defies odds in pursuit of Miss Universe Honduras crown

'El Jangueo': Meet Valeria Gonzalez

Valeria Gonzalez, a local Houston resident and student at Sam Houston State University, is set to compete in the Miss Universe Honduras competition. She's hanging out with FOX 26's Jonathan Mejia and sharing her journey to the pageant stage.

HOUSTON - Valeria Gonzalez, a local Houston resident and student at Sam Houston State University, is set to compete in the Miss Universe Honduras competition, representing the department of Copan. Her journey to the pageant stage is a testament to her resilience and determination, having overcome numerous challenges throughout her life.

More on Valeria Gonzalez

The backstory:

Gonzalez's childhood was marked by instability, as she navigated life between two countries and states.

Despite these early challenges, she has emerged as a strong contender in the beauty pageant world, drawing inspiration from former Miss Honduras Universe winner Rebeca Rodriguez.

"Rebeca Rodriguez is the one that made me be like ‘maybe I want to compete too’. I saw her and she's beautiful. She didn't have experience when she started either. So that gave me a little bit of comfort," Gonzalez said. "When I saw Rebeca on stage, I said ‘that’s going to be me one day'.

Living with an autoimmune disease, Gonzalez faced significant health challenges, including a drastic weight loss. However, this adversity fueled her passion for the medical field, where she is currently pursuing her studies at Sam Houston State University.

With no prior experience in beauty competitions, Gonzalez has had to prepare for the high-level Miss Universe Honduras contest independently. 

"It's my first time ever, so I came in cold turkey," Gonzalez said.

She has no sponsors or directors, relying solely on her own financial resources to support her journey. Her dedication and hard work have not gone unnoticed, as experts in the beauty pageantry world have mentioned her as a strong favorite to win the competition.

"It's really hard to find sponsors. It's been a lot of my own money, my partner's money, and my family's money. A lot of the candidates have directors. I wasn't able to find one. I am a completely independent candidate. "I find the stores I'm going to work with, what I'm going to wear, it's all me," Gonzalez said.

In the final stages of her preparation, Gonzalez traveled to Colombia for intensive training a week before the competition. Her commitment to excellence and her ability to overcome life's hurdles have made her a standout participant in the pageant.

What they're saying:

Winning the Miss Universe Honduras title would be a significant honor for Gonzalez, marking a triumphant milestone in her life. As she steps onto the stage, she carries with her the hopes and dreams of those who have supported her along the way, proving that determination and perseverance can lead to extraordinary achievements.

"I think we're all amazing. Every single woman in Honduras is amazing, and I don't ever want to put anyone down, but I feel determination and humbleness is what takes you far. That's what separates some of us, it's humbleness. No matter how gorgeous or prepared you are, you always have to be humble and know that you're not going to ever be the most beautiful woman. Know that there's going to be someone more successful, more beautiful. Having that humbleness is what keeps me being me. I feel like my aura, when I come into the room, people say how calm I make them feel, how comfortable I make them feel; and my smile makes them smile. I feel like having a clean, happy aura is helping me out too," Gonzalez said.