This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UPR chapter.
Beauty pageant contestants have often been dismissed as pretty airheads, but our current Miss Universe Puerto Rico has beauty and brains: did you know she’s a law school student here at la IUPI? Meet this week’s Campus Celebrity, Catalina Morales.
Name: Catalina Morales
Age: 24
Classification: Third Year
Major: Law
Hometown: Guaynabo
HCUPR: Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?
Catalina:Hi, everyone! I’m Catalina Morales, Miss Universe Puerto Rico 2015 and a third-year law student with a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Advertising. I’m currently pursuing two of my biggest goals at the once: preparing myself to hopefully become Puerto Rico’s sixth Miss Universe and also a great lawyer. Its not an easy task, but, you know what they say, do what you love, and you won’t have to work a day in your life. Aside from my professional goals and aspirations, I enjoy the simple things of life. For example, spending time with my mom, going paddle boarding in Puerto Rico’s beautiful beaches and doing exercise outdoors, particularly doing an early morning jog through Old San Juan.
HCUPR: What makes you different than your average beauty queen?
Catalina: I think that one of the things that makes me different is my level of academic preparation. I’m the first Miss Universe Puerto Rico that is simultaneously pursuing graduate studies, let alone in her third year of graduate school. The fact that I’m a law student gives me a certain edge in the sense that I’ve had to study and read a lot about our country’s history, its public policies and everything that involves and underlies our legal system. If there are people who still erroneously believe that beauty queens are only all about “looks”, I’m here to show that that isn’t true.
HCUPR: What’s something not many people know about you?
Catalina: Some people know my dad passed away from lung cancer three years ago, but something not a lot of people know is that I’m currently writing a book about the experiences I lived through during his illness, looking to hopefully help those who are undergoing a similar process.
HCUPR: Who is someone that inspires you and why?
Catalina: United States Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who is the first justice of Hispanic heritage, born to Puerto Rican parents. I admire her because she is living proof and example that even what seems the most improbable thing can occur and be achieved if you truly devote yourself to it. I also relate to her because of the career I chose, and because I also aspire to give pride to Puerto Rico.
HCUPR: Why law school?
Catalina: At first, when I was little, it was my go-to choice since my parents wanted me to be a surgeon, but I have blood phobia! As I grew older, I came to realized the honorable job one can do as a lawyer and fell in love with the idea of devoting my everyday life to helping others defend their rights. I’ve always believed that little by little one can do a lot of good, and I decided I was going to do my small contribution to my country by helping every client I had.
HCUPR: What are your goals?
Catalina: My short-term goals are, as I mentioned before, to finish my studies and become a lawyer, and to become Puerto Rico’s sixth Miss Universe and bring that great joy to my island. My long term goals might vary, but I know I just want to be successful at whatever it is I end up pursuing for the rest of my life.
HCUPR: If there was anything you could do over, what would it be and why?
Catalina: I know it can’t be done, but if I were given the opportunity to turn back time, I would probably tell my dad how much I loved him a lot more often. because I feel like I didn’t tell him enough.
HCUPR: What’s your favorite quote and why?
Catalina: “Dreams don’t work unless you do” is a quote I live by because, since I was a little girl. I’ve always had very big dreams for myself, sometimes they’ve even seemed a little too big, but this quote reminds me that, as big as my dream or goal might be, that’s as much work as I need to put into it, and it motivates me to get up and work for it.
HCUPR: Describe yourself in 3 words.
Catalina: I would describe myself as resilient, optimistic and funny! I believe I developed the gift of resilience while enduring the tough stage of my father’s illness. I would say that, out of the three characteristics, being optimistic is the main one. Optimism isn’t a feeling, but a choice, and the life experiences I’ve been through have taught me that everything can change for the better if first you change yourself for the better. And, last but not least, I have to say I love to be funny, its just who I am, or at least I try to be!