Brenda Smith biography: 15 things about Miss Universe Panama 2021

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Who is Brenda Smith?

Brenda Andrea Smith Lezama is a Mexican-Panamanian-American actress, model and beauty queen who represented Panama in Miss Universe. She was born in Georgia, United States to a Panamanian father and a Mexican mother.

An Afro-Latin culture advocate, Smith has dedicated herself raise awareness about human rights and the recognition and development of African people. She earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and cultural studies from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, United States.

Aside from Georgia, Lezama has lived in different parts of the U.S. including Florida and Missouri. She also lived in Panama City, Panama and Mexico City, Mexico.

Lezama is 5’7″ tall. Here are 15 more things about her:

1. She was Miss Georgia Teen USA 2012 second runner-up.
2. She was Miss Missouri Teen USA 2013.
3. On August 10, 2023, she represented Missouri at Miss Teen USA 2013, competed against 50 other candidates at the Grand Ballroom on Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas and finished in the Top 16.
4. In 2015, she appeared in several television shows including “PBS NewsHour,” “Dr. Drew on Call” and “MSNBC Live.”
5. On November 19, 2016, Smith competed at Miss Georgia USA 2017 at the Henry County Performing Arts Centre in McDonough, Georgia. She was runner-up to Deanna Johnson.
6. In 2018, she appeared in the TV series “El Gordo y La Flaca,” “Republica Deportiva,” “Nuestra Belleza Latina,” “iDespierta America!” and “Los Cousins.”
7. She played a therapist in the short film “Reversion.” Representing Panama, she finished 12th among 20 candidates at Nuestra Belleza Latina 2018, which aired on Univision from September 23, 2018 to December 2, 2018.
8. She played Verletta Walker in the short film “Little Stylist,” which was released in the U.S. on June 1, 2019.
9. On February 4, 2020, she was crowned Mexicana Universal Ciudad de México 2020. While holding the title, she worked on a project with the United Nations.
10. On November 29, 2020, she represented Mexico City at Mexicana Universal 2020 and competed against 29 other candidates at Hotel Misión Grand Juriquilla in Santiago de Querétaro, Mexico. She ranked seventh and was named second runner-up.
11. On November 7, 2021, she represented Panama Centro at Señorita Panamá 2021 and competed against 28 other candidates at the Hotel Whyndham Convention Center in Panama City. She won the title, making her Panama’s Miss Universe 2021 candidate.
12. On December 13, 2021, she represented Panama at Miss Universe 2021 and competed against 79 other candidates in Eilat, Israel. She finished in the Top 16.
13. On May 25, 2022, she crowned her successor Miss Universe Panama 2022 Solaris Barba at the Teatro Gladys Vidal and Centro de Convenciones Vasco Núñez de Balboa in Panama City.
14. On September 13, 2023, she hosted Miss Universe Panama 2023 with Jorge Herrera at the Atlapa Convention Centre in Panama City.
15. On May 25, 2024, she turned 30.