We recently connected with Rita Verreos and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Rita, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
At the age of 5, inspired by renowed Prima Ballerina Dame Margot Fonteyn (who was married to my mom’s cousin Tito Arias) I began to train to be a ballerina until at age 14 what could have been crippling Achilles tendón injury ended my dreams of becoming a professional ballerina. I would have probably fallen into depression had it not been for my most amazing mother, Raquel, who reminded me to have Faith in God’s plan. Looking back I know without a shadow of a doubt that my Faith in God gave me the strength to align myself with what God wanted for me. A few months later, I was spotted by the Venezuela Cónsul of SFO who suggested I consider competing in the Miss Venezuela Pageant. In my native country, Miss Venezuelas are very highly regarded and respected, not just for beauty, but for their intelligence. Even though I felt like a was an ugly duckling because in middle school I was bullied by a girl who called me “tree,” because I was taller and more slender than the rest of the girls at that age. My mom, once again, told me “Rita, trees provide the oxygen we breathe..so when she calls you tree, just say thank you and stand tall!” There, my mom began my journey of building my self-confidence. That self-confidence combined with the reminder to have Faith in God’s plan were the tools I needed to become a contestant in what is still one of the most respected Beauty Pageant, the Miss Venezuela, representing “Municipio Vargas.” I went on to represent Venezuela in Ecuador at the “Reinado del Banano”-a prestigious event for that country. I was first runner-up. I also became Miss San Francisco for the first Nuestra Belleza Latina. I’ve used my experience in Beauty Pageant to empower women of all ages Coaching them to develop healthy self-worth. Although, I’m very grateful and proud to have Coached 2 Miss USA winners (Nana Meriweather and Crystle Stewart) , I now instill that same positive attitude that my wise and intelligent mother Raquel instilled in me in the ladies that I’m so Blessed to have gotten to work with. I tell them to work towards winning whatever “crown” God has in store for them which may not necessarily be the actual pageant. I have always seen the tremendous value of merely having the opportunity to participate in a prestigious event such as the Miss Venezuela and the CBS reality show Survivor was for me. If you put it into perspective of how many people want an opportunity such as the aforementioned, you should feel like a winner simply because YOU were a part of it! When you have that kind of positive attitude-the attitude of a winner no matter what, you can go on to achieve amazing things. I hope I’m an example of that.
I went on to become one of the 1st Latinas (and only Venezuelan) on what is considered the most iconic (and definitely one of the most difficult reality shows) CBS Survivor: On that experience, it was once again my Faith in God’s plan. I was going through one of the most difficult times of my life- a divorce from my beautiful children, Alain and Casia Kennedy’s father. I prayed to God for strength -specifically for my children who were 6 and 9 at time. I wanted to reassure them that we were going to be alright; that they had a strong mommy. A week after I said that prayer, I was spotted by Erika Shay and Lynne Spillmann, Casting Directors for Survivor (while Coaching Miss California USA contestants )and became a “Castaway” on Survivor Fiji. In this experience, it was my Faith in God’s plan combined with my mom’s always instilling a positive attitude-her favorite saying “Rita, if others can do it, so can you!” and my most wonderful father, my “Daddy” who instilled in me that the most important quality one should have is their integrity. I’m proud to have played that most difficult game with the utmost integrity as a member of what is considered one of the deprived tribes in the history of the game of Survivor, Ravu. Knowing that I was able to have that experience and hold on to my integrity during a game that tests precisely that, fills me with much joy knowing that I did my Daddy and our family name proud-that’s priceless. I remember my dear brother, Nick Verreos, commenting that “I’m so proud of the grace with which you played Survivor.” I want to emphasize God’s wisdom in what I know what Him answering my prayer for strength. As I mentioned above, I wanted to reassure my children of their mommy’s strength during such a sad and scary time for us. At that age, mere words weren’t going to do the trick. I quickly realized that God had answered my prayer choosing something that would give my children reassurance in a language they understood: games. To watch their mommy during the Survivor physical challenges, run, get pushed down, fall, but get back up. During one challenge, I broke the cartilage in my nose and the Host, Jeff Probst asked me if I wanted to quit..I said “No! I’m not ever quitting. Unless my body completely breaks down or voting me off are the only 2 ways I’m leaving Surivor.” In another challenge, I lost a chunk of my shin, once again, Jeff Probst asked if I wanted to quit because I needed stitches..I gave him the same response. God even made sure there was a challenge with one of my son’s favorite sports, basketball..at least the Survivor version: a slip-n-slide with coconuts. (https://youtu.be/ItFZjdlchiM?si=oAIMIsK9IYcDZRxo )The look on my son’s face when I made my “basket” was the moment that they made me feel that in their hearts and minds, I was their “Sole Survivor” and gave them the reassurance that they had a strong mommy and we were going to be ok.
I would never have had these wonderfully life-altering experiences had it not been for my mother instilling Faith in God and a positive self worth and my Daddy instilling integrity in me. My parents gave me not only the above, they were simply ALWAYS there to guide me (whether in person or through a phone call) never judgemental, always present, always supportive of me. Before every one of my JTV shows, my sweet mommy still tells me one of my Daddy’s favorite phrases that he would tell me before I went to any TV Host audition: “Break a leg sweetheart!”, but my mom has re-created the phrase and tells me “Shake a leg!” which if you join me on my JTV shows, where I love to incorporate my love of dancing..I will indeed have you shaking a leg! ha, ha, ha.
by CBS
Rita, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a child of God, a mother of two wonderful children whom I am so very proud of. Alain graduated from UTSA on the Dean’s List and Casia graduated Magna Cum Laude from FNU on a women’s soccer scholarship…can you tell, they are my BIGGEST pride and joy! I’m a devoted wife to my husband Carl, I’m a daughter, sister and fur baby mommy of 3 rescue dogs. I am people person at heart. My two kids, Alain Dimitrios and Casia Maria and husband joke that they can’t take me anywhere because I talks and make friends with everyone! People tell me I’m a natural born communicator. I am 100% fluent in Spanish, English, French and Italian. I’m so grateful and proud to attended UC Berkeley on full-ride academic scholarships & went on to graduate from UCLA Magna Cum Laude with B.A. in French and Italian Languages & Literatures. I attribute my love of languages to coming from an international background. I was born in Venezuela, my mother Raquel is from Panamá, my Daddy James was Greek-American.
On a professional level, I am a former Miss Venezuela contestant with extensive experience as a bilingual television Host, News Anchor for TELEMUNDO New Mexico, UNIVISION and CBS Texas, Beauty/Style tips Guest Host on HSN, Mundo Fox & MSN.com as well as an “Entertainment News” Correspondent for America Te Ve, Miami and Lifestyle Host of Latin Connection TV.
In 2007, I was spotted by a Mark Burnett Productions agent who offered me to become a “Castaway” on the CBS Reality Show, SURVIVOR Fiji. My mother raised her with the motto “If others can do it, so can I!” Thus, I took the leap of faith and became one of the 1st Latinas (the only Venezuelan woman) on the world renowned program.
In my free time, when my kids were younger you would have found me as a soccer, basketball, football, tennis, baseball mom cheering then on. Now, you find me happily taking care of my 90 yrs. young mom-attending The Local Church (Plantation, FL), Transformation and New Life Gathering church (Knoxville) on Sunday’s with her, working out with my hubby and helping those in need-something that I am PASSIONATE about and that has also become part of my “Branding.” I love Emcee for charitable events. I feel it’s one way that God gave me to help bring awareness and raise funds for many organizations such as Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer, JDRF, March of Dimes, Animal Friends & Special Needs organizations to name just a few. In 2007, I created a webshow called “Latin Connection TV” that I used to help those in the community. This episode I used to give mommies at the Ronald McDonald House in Miami some self-care: https://youtu.be/O-vL583J3zo. During my time at iHeart Radio, I created their 1st community talk show in Spanish which is Produced and Hosted which I used to highlight heroes in the community, “Rita en TU Comunidad,” on iHeart Radio Miami. I also created a similar segment which was featured weekly during Telemundo West Texas during my time there are the 1st News Anchor to present newscasts in both English and Spanish. I also presented a News Story during my time as Host for Coral Gables Television to help bring awareness about people in the spectrum and the life-altering treatment they’re receiving from horses thorugh equinetherapy: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1558481017689563. Through this story, I was able to obtain a grant for a family of very limited economic means for their young son with Cerebral Palsy to receive Equinetherapy 🙏🏽. Without my knowing, one of the organizations that I Volunteered for sent my information to be considered for a “Presidential Award,” To my HUGE surprise, in 2011, I was awarded the highest honor given by the President of the United States: the “Call To Service Lifetime Achievement Award,” for my involvement as a volunteer & Emcee for over 50 charitable organizations:https://ritaverreos.blogspot.com/search?q=call+to+Service. This prestigious award is one of the things I’m most proud of. I am continuing my community involvement, connecting my work to the community in my current position as Host on JTV Español. Here’s a recen’t participation at an equinetherapy:https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-OLkngRCdv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Currently, I am deeply grateful and feel Blessed to be making history as the first bilingual Host of the largest Jewelry Home Shopping Channel, Jewelry Television. I’m honored to be making history as the 1st Host of programs-a first of their kind in Spanish on a brand new 24/7 Jewelry Home Shopping Channel: JTV Español. What sets me apart as a Host is that not only do I present you with gorgeous, unique, stylish jewelry pieces of high quality at truly unbelievable affordable prices, I fill my shows with super interesting stories and facts about jewelry made from gems that you may have never heard of like Larimar from the Dominican Republic, named after it’s founder’, Miguel Mendez’ daughter Larissa and the Sea (Mar-in Spanish) or did you know that Emperor Montezuma’s favorite crown was made out of turquoise? I share these stories because I feel that just like us, when we share our stories, we strengthen our relationships. My hope is that when you know more about the jewelry/gems I present in my shows, you’ll treasure them even more. Those are some examples of the plethora of gems and jewelry on my shows. I also share daily posts on my social media pages where I hope you can Bless me with a follow on Instagram: @jtvhost_ritaverreos or on Fb: @JTV Rita Verreos. I’m such a people person that it’s important for me to be able to connect with you beyond my shows and .continue to earn your trust and hopefully become your new jewelry shopping amiga on my shows! You can see all our JTV Español shows in select markets on television , live-streaming 24/7 on the JTV website: www.jtv.com/Español and on JTV’s brand new You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@JTVEspañol/featured
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I had to unlearn that the things you may be going after, may not be the the things that are ultimately meant for you. That’s a really hard thing to do. because when.you want something so bad, you put your heart, soul and pretty much all your thoughts into it. Right? When I was starting my career on television in San Antonio, I was working so hard towards becoming the morning show Host of one of the main tv channels. When the position became available, someone else was hired. For a second, the human side of me was so devastated, but thank God, my Faith kicked in. I remember going into my closet and not understanding why the feeling of disappointment had transformed into one of overpowering peace (“a peace that surpasses all understanding!” (Philippians 4:7). I could feel it physically even, a warmth and the words that started coming out of my mouth were “Thank you God. Wow, if this is what I wanted for me, then not getting it must mean You have something even better for me.” Sure enough, He did. A few months later, I was hired by HSN as a Guest Host. Little did I know that decades later, I was going to need that experience for the position I’m in now as the 1st Bilingual Host at JTV/JTV Español, but God knew! So as my wise daughter always says “Let go and Let God!” Luke 22:42: Not my will, but thine, be done.”
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Setting an example for my children and ANYONE of what working hard, having integrity, Faith and believing in yourself can achieve. Whenever you’re feeling defeated, From my 1st hand experience, that was just God setting me up for something AHMAAAZING. Don’t give up on your dreams! If there’s something that just won’t leave your gut or heart, it’s there and remains there until you achieve it for a reason. God put it there. Trust Him, be patient and He will get you there. I hope my journey reminds you that there’s something better ahead for you. I said this during the Reunion episode of the Survivor season I was on 17 years ago when Jeff Probt (the Host of Survivor) asked me if my kids were proud of me: (https://youtu.be/ItFZjdlchiM) and I’m still saying it now!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ritaverreos.com
- Instagram: @jtvhost_ritaverreos
- Facebook: @JTVRitaVerreos
- Linkedin: @ritaverreos
- Twitter: @ritaverreos_jtv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ritaverreos
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/@JTVEspañol/featured
www.blogspot.com/ritaverreos
Image Credits
Rita Verreos