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"Diamonds Unleashed" To Empower, Inspire Women

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - A new movement is underway to empower women and educate them on how to be strong and brilliant in the business world has home grown roots.

Earlier this week more than 350 women, and a few good men, were at the Perez Art Museum Miami for the first of eight panel discussion events across the country called "Diamonds Unleashed." Founded by Kara Ross, wife of Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross, the discussions are meant to empower all women and teach young women how to take charge of their lives and careers.

"The concept is this, we're taking the hardest most beautiful substance on earth, which is a diamond, and using it to symbolize women's strength and empowerment," said Ross. "Take a look at all the adjectives that pertain to a diamond; beautiful, strong, multi-faceted, unbreakable and brilliant, to me that's women."

CBS4's Lisa Petrillo moderated the panel which consisted of three local women who have succeeded in their careers. They were sculptor/artist Terisita Fernandez, global fashion designer Maria Buccelatti and Lourdes Lopez, a former prima ballerina who is now the artistic director at the Miami City ballet.

Before the panel discussion got underway, Petrillo asked Ross what she was most interested in.

"I want to have and listen to a really wonderful stimulating conversation which you're going to lead about what these women had to overcome. What are the issues they had to think about? How did they get to have positions of strength and power because you want that message to translate to the rest of the audience and to the younger generation," explained Ross.

The women on the panel discussed how they overcame the obstacles in their lives and what inspired them.

Ross overcame her own obstacles to become a gemologist and jewelry designer. Her "Diamonds Unleashed" collection can be found at HSN, Neiman Marcus or Stewart Weitzman stores. All net profits of sales will help young women.

"What we're doing is not only celebrating that we've come far, clearly there's room to grow, but we've come far. But were paying it forward. So all net profits, our efforts, collective efforts will go to support our non-profit partners who are educating young girls," said Ross.

At the end of the evening Kara's co-chair Darlene Perez presented The Perez Art Museum with a check for $100-thousand to fund the acquisition of works by Latina artists.

The next "Diamonds Unleashed" event will be in Dallas.

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