Monday, October 7, 2024

Celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month: Laura Harring, first Latina to win Miss USA



Laura Elena Harring Martinez, born March 3, 1964 in Los Mochis, Mexico, is the first Latina to win Miss USA.  She grew up in Mexico before she and her family relocated to San Antonio, Texas when she was ten.  At twelve, she suffered a head injury when she was caught in a crossfire from a driveby shooting at twelve.

After studying theater and dance in Europe, she moved to El Paso and began competing in beauty pageants.  She won Miss El Paso USA, Miss Texas USA, and then Miss USA 1985 becoming the first Hispanic woman to do so.  

She went on to have a successful acting career, most notable is her role as Rita in Mulholland Drive.


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