
MTV’s Amaya and Veronica Discuss Eating Disorders & Self-Esteem
MTV Stars to Come to your school to Discuss Issues of Body Image
MTV’s Real World stars team up to offer a frank and open interactive program on eating disorders and self-esteem… It seems that every year an increased emphasis is placed on weight and looks. As a result, girls of all ages struggle to live up to unrealistic physical expectations. This has led to problems such as…
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MTV’s Real World stars team up to offer a frank and open interactive program on eating disorders and self-esteem…
It seems that every year an increased emphasis is placed on weight and looks. As a result, girls of all ages struggle to live up to unrealistic physical expectations. This has led to problems such as eating disorders, depression, and lack of confidence. During college, young women are dealing with a new set of pressures and, oftentimes, get lost along the way and become afraid to ask for help.
After sharing personal stories of their own battles with anorexia and bulimia, Amaya and Veronica explore the types and roots of eating disorders through a multi-media presentation. They take a hard look at societal influences on body image as well as how the media tends to falsely represent the true body of a woman. The lecture closes with positive, esteem-building tips and a question and answer session.
Veronica Portillo has grown into a confident, intelligent, sexy, and open-minded woman. A first generation Cuban-American, she was the first and only in her family to pursue a higher education. Her love and passion for the arts and multiculturalism inspired her to leave her childhood home in very republican and conservative Orange County, California for a much more dynamic and liberal environment as she studied at the University of California at Berkeley. It was here that Veronica truly found herself, and was able to define her own set of values by borrowing ideals from both living extremes and her inner strength.
Having suffered from both bulimia and anorexia throughout her twenty-first year, Veronica has only truly become comfortable in her own skin through finding much needed confidence within herself. Not coincidentally, this time period has also been one where Veronica has overcome her long and repetitive history of emotionally abusive relationships with the opposite sex. Releasing herself from the physically binding and emotionally limiting unhealthy eating and relationship habits has given her a newfound freedom and has helped to form the beautiful and free-spirited person she is today.
Upon feeling this change Veronica was determined to reach out and share her personal story and her knowledge with others. Her presence on MTVs Road Rules: Semester at Sea and three Real World/Road Rules Challenges has given her the opportunity to be impressionable and gifted her with a voice. At the time, Veronica speaks up at high schools, colleges, and universities around the country on topics such as selfesteem, body image, eating disorders, and relationships.
Amaya Brecher was born in San Francisco, California and grew up in Oakland. After graduating from the UCLA School of Theater, she began her relationship with MTV Networks and Bunim-Murray Productions, appearing on “The Real World: Hawaii” and two “Real World/Road Rules Challenges”.
This visibility has afforded Amaya the ability to reach out to her peers to talk about the pressures of society on body-image. Currently, she lectures at colleges and universities across the United States, speaking about eating disorders and self-esteem. Amaya has appeared in such publications as “Teen People,” “Entertainment Weekly,” and “TV Guide.”
She has also been a guest on various television and radio programs including The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn (1999), Loveline (1996), and ESPN Radio. Her television career began as a teen investigative reporter for KRON-TV Channel 4 in San Francisco. She presently lives and works in Los Angeles, California.
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Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
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