Barbara Ortiz

Bárbara Ortiz

Name
Bárbara Ortiz

Birthplace
 Bayamon, Puerto Rico

Birth date
February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10) (age 44)

Height
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

Hair color
Brown

Eyes color
Brown

Major title
Miss Sim Universe 2008

**Barbara Ortiz Mendoza** (born February 10, 1987) is a Puerto Rican beauty queen titleholder and model who rose to fame after winning the **Miss Sim Universe 2008** title in Japan representing Puerto Rico. She is the first Miss Sim Universe of history.

## Early life

Born and raised in Bayamon with her parents Jon Ortiz and Elisa Mendoza and with two younger brothers. Since her childhood she always stood out because of her height and beauty and was offered many contracts with several agencies in Puerto Rico, but she declined because of studies. She started modelling at age of 16, doing runways and some photoshoots prior to enter in Bayamon University, to make a degree in Psychology. She kept doing some works as a model but never took it very seriously as she didn't see in that a future career. In 2008 and aimed by some friends she decided to apply for Miss Sim Universe Puerto Rico, a still unknown contest. She did it just to get a little bit of fun, and maybe make some money, but she never knew how big it was. In early 2008 she won the title compiting against 20 beautiful girls of the country. She won a Modelling contract, prize-money and the right to represent Puerto Rico in Miss Sim Universe

## Miss Sim Universe

Barbara took part in the first ever Miss Sim Universe pageant. It was still unknown so she didn't know the magnitude of the event until she was already in, although she knew that one of the prize was a one year contract in New York City. She travelled to Japan and compited against 33 woman around the world. Barbara stood out since the first moment she arrived because of her latina features and statuesque body (she was one of the tallest). After competing in official gown, swimsuit and evening gown (earning some of the biggest scores) she was finally crowned Miss Sim Universe 2008 in a pageant celebrated and broadcasted in YouTube in International Auditorium, Tokyo, Japan; beating her biggest rival, hometown girl Japan's Eri Kuzuya.

Shortly after winning the crown she was interviewed and showed her big shock, aswell as her desire to work against the VIH and do charity work. In the days after her winning she was informed about her duties as Miss Sim Universe, and three days later she took a plane to New York.

## Reign

During her reign Barbara Ortiz spent one year in New York working for Elite Model Managament aswell that in charity causes. She did a six months course in New York Film Academy but she focused on the humanitarian and model works. In November, 10, two months later of her crowning Barbara returned to her home country Puerto Rico for her homecoming aswell that in her hometown Bayamon. She was interviewed by the press and attended several events.

Babara Ortiz modeled and was photographed by the Miss Sim Universe Organization. In july, 2009, shorty before deliver the crown she attended Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince premiere in London, UK.

She travelled to Namibia, Kenya, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Trinidad & Tobago and Dominican Republic.

She passed on her crown at the Miss Sim Universe 2009 pageant to Brazil's Natalia Manganeli, which was held in Crown Convention Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on August 14, 2009.

## Life after Miss Sim Universe

After passing on the crown of Miss Sim Universe she came back to Puerto Rico to finish her degree in Psychology. In 2010 she finally was graduated by University of Puerto Rico. In some interviews for Puerto Rico televisions she claimed she spend a very good year being Miss Sim Universe, but she was looking for a more normal life: "Nunca me gustado los focos, y la vida de celebrity. Fue genial ser Miss Sim Universe, pero también me sirvió para comprender que como más feliz me siento es estando en casa rodedada de mi familia y seres queridos" / "I've never liked the spotligh and celebrity livestyle. It was great to be Miss Sim Universe, but I also understood that I prefer to be at home sorrounded by my family and my love ones".

Barbara keps doing some modeling works and attends to some events in Puerto Rico. She currently resides in San Juan where she works as a phsycologist and model.

On April 6, 2013, 5 years later of her crowning she was seen together with Miss Sim Universe latin titleholders Natalia Manganeli and Dayana Vargas in the Miss Sim Universe Office, but the reason is uknowed yet.

On January 13rd, 2014 she was a judge for the Miss Sim Universe 2013 competition and was seen helping Dayana Vargas to crown Susana Ferreira as the new winner.