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Fashion model Mia Molina (and co-founder of Cars and Canines) tragically killed in a shooting in September. (KFOX\/CBS4)<\/p>\n
\u201cCars and canines was started four years ago by my co-founder, Mia Molina, and me. She tragically passed away in September,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cBut we combine an event that’s meant for car enthusiasts and animal lovers to come and just see you’ve got a little bit of everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event allows attendees to bring their own dogs and also features adoptable dogs brought by multiple shelters.<\/p>\n
\u201cYep, 100%. So you’re able to bring your dogs as well. But we also have multiple shelters that come to support and bring out their adoptable dogs so we can hopefully find them homes,\u201d Espinosa said.<\/p>\n
Espinosa said continuing the event without Molina has been difficult, but she wants to keep it going in her co-founder\u2019s honor.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been incredibly difficult just because I’m used to having my other half like my partner in crime helped me with it,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cBut being able to still keep it alive in her name, in her honor and continue that legacy is really such an honor. She put so much of her heart and passion into it. So I want to keep it alive, not only for me and for what we do, but for her, because her story ended too short.\u201d<\/p>\n
Espinosa, who said she was born and raised in El Paso, is preparing to represent the United States internationally in October. She said she was awarded the opportunity to represent Texas USA and won USA, after representing New Mexico last year.<\/p>\n
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Gia Soleil Espinosa aka Miss Earth USA hosted Cars and Canines by herself for the first time since her co-founder and best friend tragically passed away in September. (KFOX\/CBS4)<\/p>\n
\u201cI will be heading to internationals in October to either the Philippines, Thailand, or Vietnam to represent the USA and El Paso as well,\u201d Espinosa said.<\/p>\n
She said Cars and Canines plans additional events this year, including a larger summer event.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo super excited. We are going to be having one, we’re hoping in June and June, July. So that’ll be our summer one,\u201d Espinosa said. \u201cWe’re hoping to make it a bit bigger … hoping to get more people involved and get local businesses involved. Being from El Paso, I believe in giving back to the community and getting them involved as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Espinosa encouraged local businesses to participate in future events.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you. I’m super excited about any businesses. I want to get involved. We’re honored to have them here,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
RECOMMENDED: El Paso’s “El Jaguar” and ‘La Bikina’; set for Ring Wars showdown<\/a><\/p>\n RECOMMENDED: Monster Jam team brings trucks and smiles to patients at El Paso Children\u2019s Hospital<\/a><\/p>\n