APRIL LUFRIU

April Lufriu is a Tampa native and a first generation American from Guanaja, Honduras.  She is a wife to George Lufriu and a mother of three children –Chad, Brandon, and Savannah & a grandmother to Dalton. As an entrepreneur, April owns a successful natural stone/quartz countertop fabrication company called Lufriu Marble & Granite, LLC. She also a professional actor/model/spokesperson appearing in many commercials & currently co-starring in a new TV series that is now in production. She is also a guest host on the national syndicated Home Shopping Channel representing national brands like Bzess, Democracy and Cuddle Duds.
 
In 2006, April and her sister Melissa pioneered in establishing the Tampa Bay Chapter for the Foundation Fighting Blindness.  Both sisters are leaders and produced a successful Tampa Bay Vision Walk event from 2007 to 2013. This year in 2022, the two sisters co-chair & produced a new annual charity event called the Tampa Wine and Dine for Sight that raised over $108,000.00 and 100% of all the proceeds go towards research for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. April became the National Spokesperson for the Foundation Fighting Blindness from 2011 to 2013 and now continues to serve as a national trustee for the Foundation Fighting Blindness. She also sits on the board of directors for the Lions Eye Institute.

 A word to describe April is persistence!! For 22 years April competed in pageants without ever winning a crown.  In 2010, April’s life changed forever when she and her two children were diagnosis with Retinitis Pigmentosa - a retinal degenerative eye disease that progressively leads to blindness. With a new mission in life to help raise awareness for the blinding disease that affects her children, her sister Melissa & herself,  April re-entered into the pageant world and swept the pageant circuit like a quite storm by capturing the Mrs Florida America 2011 title.  Six weeks after being crowned Mrs Florida, April left to compete at nationals vying for the title of Mrs America 2011 and triumphantly won being the second oldest winner & shortest winner in the pageant’s history.  Reigning eight months as Mrs America, April’s had the opportunity to vy for the title of Mrs World 2012 and captured the prestigious title breaking records of being the shortest at 5’4” and the oldest (age of 42 years…not old but yes old in the pageant world) to capture the ultimate Mrs World  crown. Her motto is “Become What You Believe” and to live life without limits.
 
As a mom on a mission to find a cure for Retinitis Pigmentosa, April speaks at numerous events about her journey in fighting blindness as she tirelessly advocates and supports the blind community by raising awareness and raising funds for research to find a cure.