Carla Gonzalez
Ms. North America Universe 2016
Model, Philanthropist, Public Speaker, Social Worker & Title Holder
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Profession/Background: Carla is a native of Oklahoma. She has a Masters Degree from the University of Oklahoma in Clinical Social Work and has spent most of her career working as a public health social worker, providing counseling services to adults and children, while also providing prevention education presentations in schools over Anti-Bullying, Cyberbullying, Teen Dating Violence and Internet Safety. She has a national certification in Anti-bullying, is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist. She is a Certified Anger Management Specialist and certified Domestic Violence Specialist through NAMA, a Grief Recovery Specialist, has a national certification in Anti-Bullying, and is currently working on becoming a QPR Suicide Prevention Instructor and a certified Life Coach.
Carla is a former board member of the Single Parent Support Network organization and was honored to be selected as their Honorary Chair. She is a member of Zonta International, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, State Human Trafficking task force, Oklahoma Women’s Coalition, American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, Academy on Violence and Abuse, International Bullying Prevention Association, National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Professional Women, International Women’s Leadership Association, National Anger Management Association, and the United Nation Association of the USA. She spent several years volunteering for the largest domestic violence shelter in Oklahoma, the YWCA; and currently supports several charities and organizations such as the American Heart Association - Guard A Heart & Go Red for Women, Suicide Prevention – Live Out Loud Charity, Make a Wish Foundation, Wounded Warriors Project, Children Uniting Nations, Safe Passage, The Amanda Network, and the Maria Suarez Foundation.
Carla has captured many awards but her most honorable award came from the President of the United States, Barack Obama, for recognition and appreciation of her commitment to strengthening our Nation and for making a difference through her volunteer service. She was also honored to receive the Crown for A Purpose award for her humanitarian efforts for improving the lives of others and successfully representing the American woman, during her reign as Ms. America International. A few other recognitions and honors include, the Power of One award from the Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault for her efforts to prevent Teen Dating Violence, recognition by the International Women’s Leadership Association for her continued effort to empower women and girls, and the individual Anti-Bullying award from the National School Safety Advocacy Council.
Aside from Carla’s humanitarian involvement, her past time hobbies include competing in and judging pageants, participating in fashion shows, modeling, emceeing events and taking acting lessons from Golden Globe winner, Sally Kirkland. She has a passion for dance and has taken Ballroom, Jazz, and Latin dance lessons from International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City. She is a graduate of both Barbizon and John Casablanca modeling schools, having experience in promotional modeling, TV commercials, and public speaking. She has appeared in, and graced multiple covers of magazines; Supermodels Unlimited, Tiara magazine, Pageantry magazine’s Who’s Who segment, The Beverly Hills Times, LATFusa, Social Work Helper, and the book Wingspan.
Carla’s titles include: Ms. North America 2016, Ms. United Nation International 2013, Ms. America International 2012, Ms. US of America 2011, Ms. Oklahoma United States 2009-10 and Ms. Oklahoma Globe 2008. Her platform is Anti-Bullying, Domestic Violence prevention & Empowerment of Women.
Carla is from Idabel, Oklahoma and has lived in Oklahoma City most of her life. She is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma, where she obtained both bachelor and master degrees in Clinical Social Work, minoring in Psychology. She has spent most of her career working as a public health social worker, providing counseling services to adults and children, while also providing prevention education presentations in schools over Anti-Bullying, Cyberbullying, Teen Dating Violence and Internet Safety.
Specialties: Aside from Carla’s humanitarian involvement, her past time hobbies include competing in and judging pageants, participating in fashion shows, modeling, emceeing events and taking acting lessons from Golden Globe winner, Sally Kirkland. She has a passion for dance and currently takes Ballroom, Jazz, and Latin dance lessons from International Dance Studio in Oklahoma City. She has a modeling career and is a graduate of both Barbizon and John Casablanca modeling schools. She has experience in promotional modeling, TV commercials, public speaking and has graced multiple covers of Supermodels Unlimited magazine, & has appeared in Pageantry magazine’s Who’s Who segment.
Philosophy: To learn more please visit her website at www.CarlaDGonzalez.com email: Carlag0321@gmail.com Twitter: @CarlaGonzalezOK, Instagram: Carlaj0368