Quinceanera Cover Girls Present at East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade (PHOTOS)

Shelbi Byrnes, Quinceanera.com Magazine’s 2012 Los Angeles Cover Girl, Jazzel Garcia, 2012 Image of Quinceanera.com, and Claudia Avila, Quinceanera.com Magazine’s 2012 San Fernando Valley Cover Girl in the 66th Annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade.

Quinceanera.com celebrated Hispanic Heritage by participating in the 66th Annual East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade that took place on Sunday, September 9, 2012.

Riding in the parade along with hundreds of thousands of other participants were Claudia Avila, Quinceanera.com Magazine’s 2012 San Fernando Valley Cover Girl, Shelbi Byrnes, Quinceanera.com Magazine’s 2012 Los Angeles Cover Girl, and Jazzel Garcia, 2012 Image of Quinceanera.com.

> Quinceanera.com is currently looking for its 2013 Image. Read more about the contest, here.

The Quinceanera’s rode in a black convertible Mustang accompanied by Hilda Gabriela, Host to the Quinceanera.com Expo and Fashion Shows, and Hugo Hernandez, Director of Marketing at El Clasificado, a media sponsor of the parade. Scroll down for photos.

The group waved to thousands of people who lined the streets to watch the parade. Courageous festival watchers ran up to the car to gift the Quinceanera’s roses, cold water bottles, hugs and kisses on the cheek. “We love you Quinceanera.com!”, “Long live the Quinceaneras!” and “We love your Expo’s!” were a few of the comments made to the Quince girls as they made their way down the parade. They were such a hit that they even made it on Univision.com’s photo gallery of best looking ladies at the parade! (Image #30). Hair and makeup was provided by Doris del Real from Doris Makeup Academy.

“It was the most exciting thing ever!,” stated Claudia Avila. “As a Quinceanera cover girl and as a Mexican-American, it makes me feel honored to be part of something that supports our traditions.”

> Quinceanera.com Magazine is currently looking for its 2012 San Diego Cover Girl.

Mexican singer Graciela Beltran served as the grand marshal of the parade in which a number of city officials, high school marching bands, cheer teams and Azteca dancers participated. Moda 2000, a fashion show partner of the Quinceanera.com Expo and Fashion Shows, was also a proud participant.

The East Los Angeles Mexican Independence Day Parade is the oldest and largest Hispanic parade in the country. As part of the Mexican Independence Day festivities, the parade is presented by Comité Mexicano Cívico Patriótico, which also presents El Grito at the L.A. City Hall and the Señorita Fiestas Patrias Mexicanas Pageant.

“A Quinceanera is more than just a party. It’s the opportunity to preserve one of the most important traditions in our culture,” stated Hilda Gabriela, who also serves as Senior Editor to Quinceanera.com. “Aside from assisting families in the planning of the celebration, Quinceanera.com also encourages its readers to celebrate and promote our heritage.”

The parade ended with an open invitation for participants and attendees to continue the celebration with a community festival that took place at Belvedere Park.

> Register for the next Ontario Quinceanera.com Expo and Fashion Show, a free, family event.

This post is also available in: Spanish