Trumbull winner to vie for Miss USA

Photo

Natasha A. Vivoda

The Trumbull native will represent the state in April.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

WARREN — People living in Trumbull County now have an additional reason to watch the Miss USA Pageant in April.

Natasha A. Vivoda, a Champion resident, will represent Ohio in the Miss USA Pageant, set to air April 19 from Las Vegas. Vivoda will spend three weeks in Las Vegas before the actual broadcast, preparing for the competition.

Vivoda was crowned Miss Ohio USA during a competition Nov. 22 at the Verne Riffe Center for the Arts in Portsmouth, Ohio. Winning the Ohio crown allows Vivoda to represent the state at the national competition.

Vivoda, wearing the Ohio crown and banner declaring her Miss Ohio USA, was honored Wednesday by Trumbull County commissioners. She offered words of thanks to all those in the area who have supported her dream of winning the pageant.

“In high school, I represented Trumbull County in a lot of programs, but I never thought I wold be able to represent Trumbull County as Miss Ohio USA and now represent the entire state of Ohio,” she said. “We have really great hard-working families here, and I am very happy.”

There is more to Vivoda than the good looks that won over judges at the state competition. She is a 2005 honor graduate from Champion High School, where she was ninth in her graduating class.

Vivoda was a biology major with a minor in chemistry at Slippery Rock University and recently transferred to Youngstown State University, where she plans to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.

Vivoda, while at Slippery Rock, was a presidential scholar on the dean’s list, a previous member of the National Honor Society, an academic scholarship recipient representing the biology department as well as a recipient of other awards.

She works at Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital as a behavior technician, comforting brain and neck injury patients and working to increase their cognitive function.

Vivoda said the challenges of school, work and competing can be overwhelming, but her desire to fulfill career and competition goals keep her going.

According to Vivoda, winning a state and potentially national pageant has been a life-long dream, but not something she grew up focused on. This is only her second year competing in pageants.

“This is something I have wanted to do since I was little. I was in school at Slippery Rock University working hard, studying hard and last year just decided to go for my dreams. I don’t want to look back and regret not going for something I wanted,” she said.

Vivoda is hoping to use the notoriety of the Miss Ohio USA Pageant to help other young women and girls see the importance of trying to make their dreams come true.

She is the daughter of Michael and Paula Vivoda Klotz of Champion.

jgoodwin@vindy.com