misssantaclara2012

Miss Santa Clara 2012!

On Saturday January 7th at 9:15pm I was crowned Miss Santa Clara 2012! I could not be more excited to represent the city the that I love and that holds such a huge place in my heart!

I have been competing in the Miss America Program since the age of seventeen and have competed in quite a few pageants along the way. Every year making progress, but not quite having exactly what the judges were looking for. Even still, every year taught me more about who I am, confidence, how special I am as an individual, interview skills and most importantly I have met some of the most amazing women I could have ever thought plausible. Each with so much drive and so many goals that it made me set my expectations for myself that much higher and grow into the women I am today.

My Support System!

I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my amazing support system. Here are just a few of the people who help support me everyday:

My boyfriend, Michael, who would watch me dance over and over until I got it perfect, talk politics with me to get my brain thinking, has been to more pageants than I’m sure he wants me to count, and most of all picked me up when I fell and always put a smile on my face.

My parents, who could win for the most consecutive ads in a Miss Santa Clara program book, and have been to every pageant over the years (my step Dad one more than my Mom and he will never let her forget it), who when I won were screaming, crying tears of joy as they jumped up and down, and have not missed a day yet of calling me just to say “Hi Miss Santa Clara”.

My amazing older sister, Renee who has always been such an amazing role model and mentor, and who is so proud and I am so happy to make her proud.

Plus all of the other amazing family and friends who helped to make each day and life occurrence run smoothly. Thank you all for helping me make my dream come true!

In addition to winning the title of Miss Santa Clara I won $5,300 in scholarship dollars. $5000 for the title and a hundred each for interview, evening gown, and community service. Both the evening gown award and the interview award I tied with the beautiful and talented Miss Arienne Calingo. I must say that this is one of the most amazing parts of winning, because I pay my own way through school and will be finishing up my degree this year at San Jose State.

One of the most special aspects of the job, is being able to work with the amazing team that makes up the Miss Santa Clara Auxiliary. They are the ultimate dream team! I cannot wait to get started on all of my Miss California prep work!

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the evening.

Me with Del Fontana the first Miss Santa Clara!

For onstage question I was asked: “If you could eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?” To which I replied “Mashed Potatoes.” So of course I ate them after the show : )