People have always told Yomarie Tejada that she has a great smile, so when she saw that Crest toothpaste was sponsoring a "Smile Bright in the Spotlight" contest, she decided to enter.

"I just wanted to see how far I could make it," says Tejada, 27.

More than 18,000 people entered the contest, and recently, judges picked three finalists, including Milwaukee's Tejada. The other finalists are from Seattle and Atlanta, and now it's up to the public to decide which woman has the best smile.

"I need all the support that I can from my city as the other two girls come from big cities, and I don't want to fall short in this competition because I came from a smaller city," says Tejada.

To vote, go to the Web site before Nov. 30. The winner will be announced on Dec. 10.

Tejada, an adviser at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, says she encourages her students to dream big, no matter how crazy it seems. "Taking my own advice, I entered the contest," she says.

To enter, Tejada sent in the above picture of herself and wrote a brief essay about her smile.

"When people tell me I have a great smile, I always say I was blessed with good teeth, but also that I have taken good care of them," she says. "People don't believe me when I tell them that I never had braces."

Tejada moved to Milwaukee from Puerto Rico when she was 7 years old. She is a graduate of South Division High School and Marquette University.

If Tejada wins the "Smile Bright in the Spotlight" contest, she will travel – along with five family members and friends -- to Los Angeles. There, she will attend the People's Choice Awards and present trophies as the official Miss People's Choice. If chosen, she also will receive VIP star treatment, including a makeover from a celebrity stylist and a luxury stay in Hollywood.

"I need your help, Milwaukee, to help me represent our city and the Midwest in general," says Tejada. "Every vote counts to help me win."