“Karina Brez, a Ukrainian model and Graduate Gemologist from Gemological Institute of America. Karina will be competing in the Miss USA 2012 Pageant in Las Vegas, Nevada on June 3, 2012. She is the current Miss Florida USA 2012. This was Brez's first attempt at the title, and her second pageant competition after she won the Miss South Florida USA local title in February 2011.

Brez was born in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine on May 19, 1988. She immigrated from the Ukraine in 1989, moving to Jackson Heights, New York and later years to Palm Beach, Florida”. – Wikipedia

Brez works out with trainer Steve Caropelo in the fitness center at Versailles in Wellington. Caropelo says that he as been working with her for several months. “We're perfecting and sculpting”, he said. “We cannot have anything jiggling when she steps”. “Everything is sore”, said Brez. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

Brez poses for a photo in her Wellington home. It's been a long road for Brez, whose family left the Ukraine, moved to America and settled in Palm Beach County when she was in grade school, and where her parents still run a jewelry business in Boca Raton. (Photo by Bill Ingram/The Palm Beach Post)

Coach Ashley Lauren Kerr, Caropelo and coach Grace Fontecha evaluate Brez as she practices her walk. Fontecha is a veteran pageant coach from Puerto Rico whose past clients have included four Miss Venezuelas, four Miss Puerto Ricos and back-to-back Miss Universes Dayana Mendoza and Stefania Fernandez. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

Caropelo and Kerr give Brez tips. “Since I was little, I'd always watch the pageants”, said Brez. “There's nothing that is going to stop me”. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

Brez rehearses her bathing suit walk for her coaches and trainer. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

Kerr gives Brez pointers on her bathing suit walk. (Photo by Bruce R. Bennett/The Palm Beach Post)

“I think I can represent the country very well. I came here as a little girl, and grew up here. I consider myself American, but I'm not only an American”, Brez says. “I'm ready to take on the world”. (Photo by Bill Ingram/The Palm Beach Post)