BY LESLIE BIXLER • Staff writer • June 17, 2010

FREMONT -- Kayleesha Martinez is hoping to jump-start an acting and modeling career. Martinez, 13, is heading to Chicago next month to meet with agents to see if she has what it takes to be in the industry.Her mother, Andrea Valdez, said Kayleesha will be walking a 100-foot runway, reading monologues and be on stage with a spotlight on her, all while agents watch her.

ProScout, an American model and talent scouting corporation, came last month to Toledo to the Crowne Plaza Hotel, where Martinez said she introduced herself. So now she moves on to audition for agents in Chicago."I really want to get involved with kid"s channels like Disney and Nickelodeon," Martinez said. "I"m kind of nervous and excited at the same time."Martinez took acting classes for 12 weeks in Toledo. At a benefit dinner last month at Pontifex, Valdez said about $500 was raised for the trip to Chicago.

There will be a benefit car wash the afternoon of June 27 at Rally"s on East State Street, and there is also an account set up at Croghan Colonial Bank in care of Kayleesha Martinez."I"m just proud of her," Valdez said. "It"s my job as a mom to help her make her dreams come true."

Source

http://www.thenews-messenger.com/article/20100617/NEWS01/6170310/-1/newsfront2