New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Anitra Bender is a 21 year old native of New Orleans, LA. She is the middle child of 5 and a 2009 graduate from Edna Karr High School. As a current Performance and Media Arts student, Anitra tries to take full advantage of her skills. She has interned for the Essence Music Festival, assisted Basketball Wives’ Royce Reed and is also a former brand ambassador for Reebok. She hopes her talents will one day lead her to the place she loves the most, Europe! Though acting is a strong passion of hers, an even greater one is striving to be an inspiration to young women everywhere and she would love to incorporate both while traveling the world! Three of her biggest ambitions are to star as a lead role in an action film, open an acting school and work with Mr. Tyler Perry! Being fun, fierce and fashionable are a few traits she’s picked up on growing up as a city girl. “You have to keep yourself very busy to not get caught up in the craziness of a party place, such as NOLA!” Anitra spends most of her time at the Housing Authority of New Orleans where she is a receptionist. When she isn’t at work she’s likely touring the city, reading, hanging with her friends or exercising. Leading a healthy and fit lifestyle is one thing she is a strong advocate of. New to the sport of pageantry, it’s just another thing she can check off of her list! Competing for the title of Miss Louisiana USA takes a lot of work, Anitra says. “With all of the training, both physical and mental, it’s something you have to really want! In the end, whether you walk away crowned or not, you walk away proud of yourself, with a different mindset and with new life goals. Holding the title as Miss NOLA USA and being a representative of such a beautiful, cultured place is quite an honor!” –AB. To keep up with Anitra’s journey and follow her road to Miss Louisiana USA 2014 you can enjoy the experience as well by following her on social media: www.Facebook.com./missnolausa www.twitter.com/missnolausa www.instagram.com/missnolausa

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