Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivana Garcia Ocanto.
Hi Ivana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
Of course! My name is Ivana García, a beauty queen and professional model. My love for modeling and beauty pageants began when I was 8 years old and started participating in contests in my home country of Venezuela. Sometime later, when I was 15, my parents decided to move to the United States. Despite coming to another country, I continued to seek opportunities to grow and gain more experience in modeling. Then, I won my first contest, Miss El Sol de la Florida 2018, to become the face of a radio station here in Florida.
Later, I decided to compete in the most important Latino pageant, Miss Mundo Latina USA, where I represented Orlando and became the winner of the main title of Miss Mundo Latina USA 2022. There, I had the opportunity to continue working with my community through foundations such as Nuevo Sender and De Mujer and continue to work with Give Kids the World. Miss Mundo Latina allowed me to help more Latin people and even inspire other girls to continue with this responsibility. A year later, I was motivated to participate in Miss Grand Florida, my first American pageant, where I emerged as the winner, allowing me to represent the beautiful state of Florida nationally. Miss Grand USA 2023 took place in Chicago, where I made it to the top 10 nationally. I still proudly wear this sash, working for my community, especially with Give Kids the World, Make-A-Wish, and St. Jude. Being a beauty queen is an opportunity to help my community and, in my case, always uplift my Latino community. Due to all my experience, patience, luck, and ability to connect well with children and educate them, I started training two girls for Miss Mundo Latina, where they emerged as winners. I then continued to teach personalized classes at the girls’ homes. It wasn’t until the beginning of this year, on January 27th, that I began preparing more girls to fulfill their dreams in my new physical location, Ivana García Modeling Academy, located in Orlando, FL, just minutes from the Icon Park—a dream come true.
My purpose in this academy is to create comprehensive beauty queens and role models, learning a little bit of everything and emphasizing the importance of always being educated and helpful to the community. At Ivana García Modeling Academy, we create role models and have the best alliances to help girls grow professionally. Follow us on Instagram @ivanavgarcia @ivanagarciaacademy and discover more about us.
Also, participate in Talent Inc., where you participate in commercial, catwalk, and photography categories, and win the Overall Commercial Model 2021 award. I have also been a model at New York Fashion Week, Miami Fashion Week, A La Carta Fashion Show, Orlando International Fashion Week, and Winter Park Fashion Week. I am also an image of Thais Oliveira, an internationally recognized stylist, and some boutiques in Orlando, including Shop by Edimar and Coco Indigo, who have been working with me for over 4 years. Also, the image of one designer brand, Chiffique. Walked in fashion shows for renowned designers such as Rosa Camejo, Salvador Medina, Giannina Azar, and others
Would it have been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the obstacles I faced was the language barrier since I arrived without any knowledge of the language of an educational system and a culture I was not accustomed to. In addition to this, finding a balance between my professional life and my family was challenging. It’s a busy life where being organized helps me a lot, and having my short and medium-term goals keeps me motivated.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ivana García Modeling Academy?
We create well-rounded models and offer modeling, makeup, hairstyling, etiquette, and protocol, posing for photos, dance, and image consulting classes. Additionally, we conduct casting calls and recruit talent for showcases. My specialty is teaching girls aged 5 to 15 years old, meaning young girls. What they learn in this academy is lifelong, not just for the runway but also for maintaining good presence and etiquette in any setting. Our curriculum includes simple things like improving posture, sitting correctly, and posing well for family photos. I am known for preparing girls to win their crowns in any competition while ensuring they remain true to themselves. What sets me apart is that despite my young age—being 22 years old—I have the experience of starting in this industry at the young age of 8, along with winning several titles and working with various brands and signing with different agencies, contacts that I use to help my girls grow professionally.
Ivana García Modeling Academy has professionals in makeup, photography, runway walking, and public speaking. I am proud to educate girls who inspire others to pursue their dreams through their achievements. Our academy is conveniently located just 5 minutes from Icon Park, and you can check out our website at www.ivanagarciamodelingacademy.com or our Instagram @ivanagarciaacademy to stay updated on our upcoming masterclasses, fashion shows, castings in the Orlando area, and our services. Your first class is always free; we guarantee you’ll want to return for more. Additionally, if your child is 15, we offer personalized private classes.
What are your plans for the future?
In the future, I plan to continue creating beauty queens and inspiring others through my experiences. Of course, I also aim to remain active in pageantry. My ultimate goal is to represent the USA on an international level. This would be my way of showing gratitude to the country that is now my home and has allowed me to fulfill my dreams. Undoubtedly, bringing home an international crown to the United States and representing the Latino community within the country would be a significant achievement. Furthermore, I intend to keep growing my modeling academy, creating more opportunities, and supporting the community. I need to give back and help others achieve their goals, just as I’ve been fortunate to achieve mine. Together, we can continue to empower and uplift each other, positively impacting the world of beauty and beyond. Continue working with more brands as a model and attend big fashion shows in Europe.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ivanagarciamodelingacademy.com
- Instagram: @ivanavgarcia personal @ivanagarciaacademy business
Image Credits
@photobyjosegre
