Las Vegas Weekly

November 24, 2008 · 10:20 AM

Here she is, Miss Nevada Julianna Erdesz

By Robin Leach

2009 Miss Nevada Julianna Erdesz.

Photo: Miss America Organization

What an incredible story of dedication and determination to overcome life’s hardships for our new Miss Nevada. Julianna Erdesz will represent our Silver State when the Miss America Pageant comes to Planet Hollywood for the live telecast Jan. 24.

Her extraordinary story began when her parents fled Hungary to escape the Communist invasion. From our state capital in Carson City, Julianna was their first American-born daughter. For five years, they were forced to live in a RV because of the financial challenges they faced from her dad’s serious health issues.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Julianna Erdesz with Linda Eder.

Unable to afford private lessons, Julianna’s parents encouraged her to develop her dance talents at school. At age 16, she was accepted into the performing arts program of the I Can Do Anything charter school, which won her scholarships to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Julianna Erdesz and her Cirque-like aerial artistry.

Juliana graduated at the top of her AMDA class last year. She’s pursuing graduate studies at the New School University and has also founded Arts Reach to target at-risk kids with art to keep them out of trouble.

Juliana has already begun filming the new TLC reality series that will precede the major spectacular for four weeks starting in the new year (click HERE for our recent report about the viewer-voting show).

Photo: Miss America Organization

Julianna is doggedly pursuing the Miss America crown.

We’ll all be rooting for Julianna when she arrives in Las Vegas for the pageant, and I can exclusively reveal that one of the highlights of their visit will be a night of Pole Position Racing -- opposite Palms Place -- where all 52 girls will compete in the miniaturized race cars to find a top-speed winner.

Photo: Miss America Organization

Julianna Erdesz in portraiture.

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