Cochea Rivera, a pharmacy technician at the Brainerd Wal-Mart, is one of 66 women competing for the Miss Tennessee USA title Oct. 6-8 in Clarksville. Click to enlarge.
photo by Wendy King
Cochea Rivera is an aspiring pharmacist, but before she fills her first prescription, she has her eye on attaining the 2006 Miss Tennessee USA title.
The junior pre-pharmacy major at UT-Chattanooga will depart for Clarksville next week where she will be among the 66 women vying for the state crown in a three-day event starting on Oct. 6 and concluding with the finals on the 8th.
The winner will represent the state at the 2006 Miss USA Pageant to be held early next year. Ms. Rivera was designated as Miss Hamilton County USA after her application was accepted by pageant officials.
The daughter of professional model Veronica Osborne, the pageant experience will be a first for the 2003 Silverdale Baptist Academy graduate.
“It is something that I have always wanted to do, so I decided to go for it.” she said during a recent work break.
Miss Rivera will compete in swimsuit and evening gown and will face the judges in a private interview.
She has been working with a trainer at a local Powerhouse Gym in preparation for the swimsuit competition which she readily admits is the most intimidating part of the contest for her. (“Definitely the most nervous about that”)
Miss Rivera is hoping to be accepted into the pharmacy program at the University of Georgia after completing her undergraduate work. She was hired as a pharmacy technician at the Brainerd Wal-Mart three months ago.
Ironically, the current Miss USA, Chelsea Cooley of North Carolina, is the daughter of a Wal-Mart truck driver. Miss Rivera’s father, Marvin, is a chemical engineer at Olin in Cleveland. She has two brothers and two sisters and her boyfriend, Edgar Patton, also attends UTC where he is studying to become a computer engineer.
When Miss Rivera isn’t busy attending classes or tending to her pharmacy technician duties, she is active in the Black Student Legislative Association and is a counselor for the University Bound program.
Miss Rivera is attempting to become the third area woman in four years to win the Tennessee crown. In 2003 and 2004 respectively not only did Cleveland’s former Miss America entrants Stephanie Culberson and Beth Hood win the state USA titles, but both went on to fourth runner-up placements at the national level.