Hello! My name is Victoria Oliveira and I was recently selected as a state finalist for National American Miss Rhode Island! I am very grateful for this opportunity to represent the state of Rhode Island and doing it for a cause. My grandfather, Jose Oliveira, was one of my biggest supporters and pushed me to achieve anything I put my mind to. He taught me without risk there is no reward and I gained so much of my confidence and identity through his values. He was the strongest man I ever knew, after emigrating from Portugal in ‘94 he did whatever it took to give our family the best life we could work for. This February his time had come after his long battle with Type 2 Diabetes. To honor him I decided to join the pageant after being nominated and fight for awareness of Diabetes as a whole. Helping me raise my goal and advance to Nationals at a chance to succeed and pursue my dreams would make me eternally greatful, but knowing I worked hard and did all that I could with your help to honor my grandfather and make him proud up in Heaven is something I could never buy. If you can’t donate, please spread the word because anything you could do would be just as great. Thank you for taking the time to read, share, and donate I hope to make all of you proud— especially my grandfather.