Beauty for a Cause: Eva LaRue

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Beauty for a Cause

For seven years, Eva La Rue starred as the vivacious and brilliant Natalia Boa Vista on the CBS primetime series CSI: Miami. She portrayed a DNA lab specialist turned crime scene investigator with a knack for grant writing on one of the most watched television shows in the world.

Eva earned an Emmy nomination and NAACP nomination for her long running portrayal of Dr. Maria Santos on the popular ABC daytime drama, All My Children where she played the quintessential heroine. For this role, she also won the prestigious Gracie Award by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television as well as winning two highly esteemed American Latino Media Association (ALMA) Awards. She received a second Emmy nomination for the song she co-wrote and performed on All My Children entitled Dance Again With You.

In addition, Eva starred in the highly rated Lifetime Network film Cries in the Dark and she had a recurring role as George’s sister on the ABC hit show The George Lopez Show. Other TV credits include recurring roles on the NBC series Third Watch and Showtime Network’s Soul Food as well as starring roles in Danielle Steele’s Remembrance and A Dream In A Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story.

In September 2008, Eva appeared opposite Samuel L. Jackson on the big screen in the MGM thriller Lakeview Terrace. Eva resides in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter and these days she is busy with her charity work and launching her own self-titled fine jewelry collection.

Eva La Rue Fine Jewelry

According to Eva, her collection of jewelry is a story of spirituality and womanhood. Her signature star, found in her logo and jewelry, is representative of her journey through some of the worst times in her life, and back into happiness, peace and serenity.

The Eva La Rue Fine Jewelry logo was a very important detail to Eva because she wanted it to represent the meaning and importance of the entire line. The lotus, an eternal symbol for beauty and purity, makes the first bold statement. At the core of this lotus is the beautiful nine-pointed star - a signature of the Baha’i faith, which finds truth in all the spiritual prophets of the world; it is truly a symbol for humanity. The color was inspired by Tanzanite, the stone of new beginnings.

“It is never too late to find the beauty of humanity and begin again,” says Eva. “The number nine represents “spiritual completion,” and the star is a symbol of guidance. It’s a way to remind myself to always be connected to my spirit, and make life choices that reflect that. Every beautiful work of art in this collection is an anthem of triumph, fit for a red carpet or a day at the office.”

Giving Back

Since 2006, Eva has dedicated her off-screen time to playing an instrumental role in raising awareness for the needs of cancer patients by collaborating with various nonprofit organizations nationwide, including the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). Having lost her grandmother and her great-grandmother to cancer, the cause remains close to her heart and was a catalyst for her involvement in Beckstrand Cancer Foundation.

Today, Eva is the national spokesperson for the Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, a non-profit offering financial aid to those families with members battling cancer as well as offering college scholarships to students with cancer and survivors. Eva works to extend Beckstrand’s mission of improving quality of life for cancer patients and their families by providing patient advocacy, financial assistance, counseling, art therapy and education.

While research is imperative to finding a cure for this devastating disease, Eva’s objective is to shed light on an equally important part of the fight: The critical day-to-day survival needs of patients as they undergo treatment. Beckstrand Cancer Foundation completes the circle of care for patients by providing help and offering hope to meet these needs.

After seeing the effects of cancer within my own family,” Eva shared, “I felt compelled to step into a role that highlights the unique needs of cancer patients across the country.

“As National Spokesperson for Beckstrand Cancer Foundation, I have an opportunity to be a voice of inspiration and strength for the vulnerable – and provide help during one of the most difficult times of their lives. There is hope, and that is the message I want to share with them.”

Copyright 2012 Crown Media Holdings, Inc./Photographer: Carin Baer and special thanks to Anthony Turk & Eva La Rue Fine Jewelry