At the CHS 2002 Sports Awards, the Mustangs girls track & field team, from left: Sylvia Santelli, Lizzie Bakarich, Nermina Feratovic, Nicole Zayatz, Megan Kogit, Kaity Rodriguez and Kimberly Biason. At right, Kaity with best friend Shenay Green and CHS sociology teacher (and now Clifton Adult School director) John Lopez, who Kaity said was a key mentor.
Kaity with her dad Sam, mom Osteen, and brother, Cruise.
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December 2008 • Clifton Merchant
“Wardrobe, walking on the stage, the question and answer segment, confidence building, make up, hair,” she said. “They pretty much help with everything.” The support refined her natural talents and prepared Rodriguez for her biggest competition to date: Miss New Jersey, which took place on Oct. 19. “I’m a very competitive person, so my expectations were to place in the top five or win,” she said. “But I was still shocked to hear my name. You don’t think about it then, but now, it’s actually reality.” “My closest friends were so proud of me,” added Rodriguez. “I’ve been hearing from a lot of people that I haven’t talked to in years. People are contacting me on Facebook and stuff. Everyone’s just so happy to hear that this is happening to me.” But as much as being crowned Miss New Jersey is a personal achievement, Rodriguez knows that the position wields a considerable amount of power.