Angelica Vale named Mr. Amigo 2007

Mexican actress and singer Angelica Vale was named Mr. Amigo 2007 by the Mr. Amigo Association, committee president Jorge Flores announced Thursday at the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville.

This is the second time in the history of Mr. Amigo that a parent and child have each received such recognition.

In 1986, singer Marco Antonio Muñiz was named Mr. Amigo, and in 2000, his son Jorge Muñiz received it. Singer Angelica Maria, mother of Angelica Vale, was named Mr. Amigo in 1996, and now her daughter will be honored in 2007.

“Angelica represents the values that the Mr. Amigo Association seeks in its recipients,” said Flores. “She represents friendship and brotherhood… she’s friendly, happy and people from the U.S. and Mexico love her.” She recently starred in the hit Mexican soap opera, “La Fea Mas Bella,” which inspired an American counterpart, “Ugly Betty.”

The recognition was announced at the Mexican Consulate in Brownsville. Dignitaries present included Mexican Consul Victor Manuel Treviño, members of the Mr. Amigo Association, Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada, U.S. Consul in Matamoros Cecilia Elizondo Herrera, and city dignitaries from Matamoros.

“The designation gives me great pleasure,” Treviño said. “It’s about an artist that is popular today, she’s charismatic, with an easy-going attitude, and she’s a complete actress that can sing, act and imitate. She shines with her own light,” he said.

Mr. Amigo Association is part of the Charro Days festivities that takes part during the week of Feb. 24, 2008 and runs through March 2. The first Mr. Amigo was former Mexican president Miguel Aleman in 1964.

Angelica Vale will take part in various Charro Days events, including parades, Fiestas Mexicanas in Matamoros and the traditional Hands Across the Border celebration.