Milwaukee’s Yomarie Tejada was thrilled when she won the Scope / Crest toothpaste "Smile Bright in the Spotlight" contest. Originally, as the winner, she was to travel to Los Angeles – along with five family members and friends -- to attend the People's Choice Awards, walk the red carpet and present trophies as the official Miss People's Choice.

Because of the Hollywood writers' strike, the People’s Choice Awards will now be pre-recorded and there won’t be a red carpet. So, what does all of this mean for Tejada, the 27-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee adviser who decided to enter the contest to “dream big” like she always tells her students to do?

OnMilwaukee.com: Are you still getting the free trip with your family and friends to Los Angeles?
Yomarie Tejada: Yes, I will still be going to L.A.  I'll be flying earlier than planned to hand out trophies to some of the winners during the recording of their thank-you speeches.

OMC: Are you still going to be on TV?
YT: Yes, I will still be on TV.  I think I will also be recording a short segment about my contest experience that will air during the show but that can change, too.  I can't keep up with all the changes.

OMC: Has anything major changed for you about the experience?
YT: There have been many changes to my prize.  For example, since the show will be pre-taped, I will not have the experience of being on stage at the Shrine Auditorium handing out trophies or walking the red carpet. I am not sure if I will have the opportunity to meet Ryan Seacrest.  The part that bothers me the most is that none of my family members and friends accompanying me will be present as I hand out trophies to some celebrities.

OMC:  Are you disappointed?
YT: The changes to my experience at the People’s Choice Awards have been a huge disappointment to me because I won't get to do all of the things that I worked so hard to accomplish, such as be on stage, walk the red carpet and most importantly, share this moment with my closest family members and friends.
However, the changes are beyond everyone’s control.  Crest and Scope have been working really hard to still give me my moment to smile in the spotlight.  I just hope that one day I will have the opportunity to realize the dreams I was not able to fulfill because of the changes made to the show. I am a dreamer that will always
continue to dream big!

What keeps me positive through all of this is the support from my husband, family members and friends.  What is most important to all of us is that I won the contest and that is a huge accomplishment for me.  I still can't believe that I beat over 18,000 people nationwide to be Miss People's Choice.  The most touching part about this experience is that not only did I have the support from people in the United States, but other people from countries such as Puerto Rico, Mexico, England, Dominican Republic, England, Spain, Iran, Iraq, Costa Rica -- just to mention a few.  It's pretty amazing to think that people from all over the world got together to help make my dream come true.  I am truly blessed.

OMC: What do you hope results from all of this?
YT: I hope that something else super exciting comes out of this experience like Crest and Scope ask me to be their next "Crest Girl" in a TV commercial. Hint, hint.