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Community Corner

Sparkles, Smiles and Tears at Miss Spring Valley Pageant

A rainbow of colorful dresses and emotions illuminated the combined Miss College Grove, Miss Lemon Grove and Miss Spring Valley pageant Saturday night.

The theme of the evening, “A World of Royalty,” was more than fitting on Saturday night as more than 20 local young ladies competed in the Miss Spring Valley, Miss Lemon Grove, and Miss College Grove beauty pageants. For the first time, the pageant included four separate age-specific titles representing three different regions, making the event chock full of royalty indeed. 

Competing simultaneously in a festively decorated hall at , the contestants put their best sequined foot forward and tried to impress the panel of judges through sportswear and gown modeling, a series of on-the-spot questions, and, the night before, essays and speeches.

At the end of a festive evening, the Spring Valley winners were: Crystal Butcher, Miss Pre-Teen;  Adrianah Castro, Miss Junior Teen; Christina Torres, Miss Teen; and Daniela Serna, Miss Spring Valley.

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Introduced by Mistress of Ceremonies Lindsey Palser, the panel included Shawn P. Walchef, owner of ; Joan Richardson, president and CEO of Richardson Insurance Agency; Ronan Mandra, consultant for the U.S. Navy; Sandra St. John-Large, small business owner and Salvation Army volunteer; and Eric Yates, editor of Mount Helix Patch.

“I’m so glad I’m not a judge tonight,” said Palser on several occasions throughout the night.  “It would be so hard to make a decision!”

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The atmosphere of fierce competition was somewhat tempered by light-hearted musical selections keeping with the “around-the-world” theme. The sportswear-modeling section was accompanied by Swedish swing music, while the contestants strutted in evening wear to the delicate ukulele plucking of a Hawaiian-tinged version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Additionally, the entertainment break between the modeling portions of the competition featured Kathleen Stanfill, Miss College Grove 2010, dancing an elegant hula to country favorite “In This Life,” followed by sisters Chrissy and Sara Rhamy, Teen and Pre-Teen Miss Spring Valley 2010, respectively, tap dancing to a sporty, baseball-themed rendition of “Shoeless Joe.”

While the contestants showed their fun and flirty side during sportswear modeling, the indisputable highlight of the event was the evening wear competition, during which each young lady answered two random, hand-picked questions.  The questions varied from serious (What is one thing you’d change about yourself?) to fantastical (If you could be on any TV show, what would it be?) to enlightening (What does impossible mean to you?).

Some of the contestants even had a little fun with their questions, such as one young lady who answered the question “What one item would you want to have on a deserted island?” with a cleverly obvious response: a book about surviving on a deserted island.

The final portion of the competition was “Poise and Personality,” in which the judges were presented a side-by-side comparison of all the contestants (broken into two age groups) to assist them in making their final decisions.  Each young lady had one last chance to execute the perfect walk in a flurry of sparkles, ruffles or pouffy folds.

During an intermission to give the pageant auditor time to tally up the votes, members of the audience were encouraged to peruse the scrapbook-style poster displays constructed by each 2010 titleholder, chronicling their year full of fun activities and community service.  Also, attendees were invited to vote in the People’s Choice Award competition, which was later presented to Kathy Sue Pierce.  Other awards included Jessidra Villalobos, Miss Congeniality; Ana Szumilas, Miss Photogenic; and Cheryl Krueger and Stephanie Packard, winners of the essay contest. 

Before announcing the new 2011 titleholders, pageant director Elizabeth McBrayer was presented with a surprise title of her own–Miss Diamond International–complete with sash and crown, in recognition of all her hard work.  Other recognitions included special certificates for the outgoing titleholders from the office of Congressman Duncan Hunter, and the introduction of visiting California pageant royalty, including Ed and Rita Zasueta, Mr. and Mrs. Spring Valley.  Donning a sash of his own, Zasueta remarked that as “the only rooster in the hen house,” he felt rather awkward.

Finally, each 2010 titleholder offered her farewell message, which ranged from quick shout-outs to family and friends, to long, tear-streaked monologues that exemplified just how much the experience meant to the young ladies who were lucky enough to win last year. 

Outgoing 2010 Spring Valley royalty Sara Rhamy (Pre-Teen Miss Spring Valley), Chrissy Rhamy (Teen Miss Spring Valley) and Melissa Martinez (Miss Spring Valley) each talked about how much the honor meant to them.

McBrayer then presented each with a commemorative framed photo, scholarship check and bouquet of flowers, which left the girls no spare hands to perform the classic pageant wave during their final walk around the stage.

Then, the moment everyone was waiting for–the crowning of the 2011 titleholders.  First up were the Princess (or runner-up) presentations, which went to Angelica Castleberry, Mira Corrao, Reneaja Norris, Samantha Capitano, Ana Szumilas, Kyrie Skinner, Jennie Turner and Kathy Sue Pierce.

Lemon Grove and College Grove also crowned their new royalty.

The winners of the 2011 pageant for College Grove were: Cheryl Krueger, Miss Pre-Teen; Kayla Elizondo, Miss Junior Teen; Carol Krueger, Miss Teen; and Stephanie Packard, Miss College Grove.

Lemon Grove winners were: Renee Martinez, Miss Pre-Teen; Raquel Ruiz, Miss Junior Teen; Serena Dominguez, Miss Teen; and Jessidra Villalobos, Miss Lemon Grove.

After the crowning ceremony, including hugs and well wishes from one set of titleholders to the next, the contestants were free to get swooped into the loving arms of family and friends in the audience.  As McBrayer stated in her program message, each young lady was “already a shining star” in her community even before the winners were announced, and the simple choice to participate in the pageant program, with all the community service and growth opportunities it entails, “speaks volumes” about each of them.  

College Grove, Lemon Grove and Spring Valley are fortunate communities indeed.

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