SLIDELL –– The title of Ms. Louisiana Belleza Latina, a national scholarship pageant designed for women that are of at least 25 percent Hispanic descent, was recently awarded to Slidell resident Antonia Segura.

A 2000 graduate of Northshore High School, 20-year-old Segura will be a junior at LSU this fall where she is working on a double major in broadcast journalism and public relations.

Formerly Teen Miss Slidell 1998, she will compete in the national Ms. Belleza Latina pageant held in Kissimmee, Fla., on November 3 against 36 other young women from across the United States.

This year marks the first year of the Ms. Belleza Latina pageant, one of four pageants in the U.S. specifically for women of Hispanic descent; Segura is half Mexican from her Texas-born Mexican father.

One thing that makes the Ms. Belleza Latina pageant different, however, is the fact that it is open to single mothers. Although Segura is not a single mother, she can identify with the situation as her sister had a child before marrying.

Her platform as Ms. Louisiana Belleza Latina is assisting in raising funds to further research for lupus.

"It's not curable right now, but it is treatable," she said. "Hispanics and African Americans are the two most affected minority groups by this disease. I chose this platform because it hits close to home."

Segura's aunt died of lupus, and she has another aunt and several cousins that are currently battling the disease.

Along with participating in various fundraisers for lupus research, Segura is also making an effort to distribute information to the Spanish community regarding lupus.

"Many of them are not well informed," she said.

Between volunteering, working two jobs, making appearances for Ms. Belleza Latina and preparing for the upcoming national pageant, Segura is a busy woman.

"I go to school, and then I go to work, and then I go to sleep," she said, laughing.

The judging process for Ms. Belleza Latina is based 50 percent on an interview competition, 25 percent on evening gown and 25 percent on casual wear.

"I'm preparing for the interview by reading newspapers, keeping up with current events, that sort of thing," she said.

She is also in the process of gathering support and selling ads for the pageant.

"If some nice soul out there wants to sponsor me, that would be wonderful," said Segura.

Segura is responsible for all of her pageant expenses including travel and lodging. "Whatever money we are able to raise, my parents and I don't have to pay for."

"I'm really excited. I think it's going to be a lot of fun," she said.