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Former “Big Brother,” “Survivor,” and “The Bachelor” Stars Join Celebration of Latino Heritage
The Great New York State Fair’s new Latino Village Weekend will feature three top Latino reality television stars in an on-stage Q&A and meet-and-greet for fans. The event takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday, August 25 on the Experience Stage in the New York Experience festival grounds on the west end of the Fairgrounds. The Q & A features reality television stars Victor Arroyo of “Big Brother,” Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth of “Survivor,” and Bekah Martinez of “The Bachelor.” Elisa Morales, Executive Director of La Liga, Syracuse’s Spanish Action League and the Fair’s Superintendent of Latino Village Weekend, will moderate the discussion. After the interview, fans will be able to meet the stars.
The three-day Latino Village Weekend, August 24 to 26, celebrates the music, food and crafts of the Latino people. It joins other cultural celebrations such as the Indian Village, the Pan-African Village, Gospel Music Weekend, Pride Day, New Americans Day and other events that honor the diversity of New York State and include the entire state in the Fair’s annual celebration. Acting Director Troy Waffner said, “We’re proud to to host this meet and greet, and all of the other great events taking place during Latino Village Weekend. We look forward to providing fans this unique opportunity to hear the great stories of some of their favorite celebrities.”
Latino Village Event Superintendent and La Liga Executive Director Elisa Morales said, "Latinos add the spice to America's ‘Melting Pot’ and I believe that Victor, Ozzy, and Bekah are proof of that. The Fair is providing a perfect platform for us to dialogue about the beauty of our Latino roots, culture, traditions, and the resilience of the Latino spirit as we face the challenges of life. This event will give fans the opportunity to learn another side of their favorite reality stars."
About the Reality Stars
Victor Arroyo, a contestant on the 2016 edition of “Big Brother,” is known to many as “The Comeback King” for becoming the first contestant ever to earn his way back into the Big Brother House twice after being voted out. He was named “America’s Favorite Player” for that season. Originally from Puerto Rico, Arroyo lived in several different locations around the world because his father joined the Navy. Arroyo graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2014. Arroyo lives in Ulby, Michigan with his girlfriend Nicole Franzel, whom he met on “Big Brother.”
Oscar “Ozzy” Sebastian Torres Padilla Lusth has been a contestant in four seasons of CBS’s “Survivor.” He was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and was raised in North Carolina and the Bay Area after he moved to the U.S. with his mother. He holds the record for the most days spent as a “Survivor” contestant, at 128. When Ozzy first appeared on “Survivor,” his Mexican background was a major factor in getting him on to the show.
Bekah Martinez finished fifth on the most recent season of “The Bachelor” and is an aspiring actress. She was homeschooled in Fresno, California and has always had a love for the spotlight. After graduating from high school, she studied at UC Irvine as a Fine Arts major for two years. This year, Martinez was a fan favorite on “The Bachelor.”
The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 22 to September 3, 2018. The Fair's mission, reflected in its theme, "FIND YOUR GREAT," is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment.
The home of the Great New York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available on the Fair’s website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair on Twitter, on Snapchat at nysfair and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
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