Mayra Veronica

Mayra Veronica, named "Miss USO" by the United States Military as their favorite pin up, will be participating at the upcoming 2009 American Music Inaugural Ball (AMIB) hosted by music legend Dionne Warwick on Tuesday, January 20. The first-ever two ball inauguration celebration will be held at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington D.C. and will comprise a "Legends Ball" and an "Urban Ball," expecting to draw 4,000 guests, with a diverse roster of celebrities, athletes and VIPs – including Yolanda Adams, Chaka Khan, George Clinton, Jalen Rose, David Banner, Peter, Paul & Mary and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges.

Representing as Miss USO, Veronica will be introduced at both balls with five representatives of the Armed Forces – Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Veronica recently returned from two USO tours paying tribute to the troops, including an "8 days, 8 countries" tour, of Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Greenland, Alaska, Korea and Germany. She was joined by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (need name!), hip-hop stars the Ying-Yang twins and UFC Champion Chuck Liddell.

Veronica, the first Cuban American to ring the NASDAQ bell, is also an advocate for UNICEF, bringing both the USO and UNICEF together when she rang the bell last year. Veronica has the top selling calendar in the world and proceeds from her sales will go to the "Wounded Warrior" and "USO.org." She has appeared on The O’Reilly Factor, Fox & Friends, Inside Edition and Neil Cavuto; and will continue to entertain the troops on future USO tours in 2009.