The Miss California Pageant, Part 1: The Beginnings

As a local titleholder in the Miss America Organization, I had the honor and privilege of competing for the state crown: Miss California!! Since I began competing as a teen, it has always been a dream of mine just to attend the pageant as a contestant... and now that dream has finally come true!! =D
It was not always sparkles and sequins, though: when I was crowned Miss VC, I was nowhere near ready to compete at such a competitive state competition: my communication skills needed refinement, my physique needed tightening (and health), and my interview abilities needed to be pushed to the next level... a LOT of sweat and tears went into preparing for this competition- but now looking back every single drop of sweat and every single tear shed was absolutely worth it!
Since my experience at Miss California was over an extensive period of time, I will post multiple blogs rather than just one... I hope they give you a clearer picture of what goes on at Miss California through the eyes of a contestant- and more importantly, I hope you enjoy reading them! =)
Let's start at the beginning (a very good place to start! Haha!). On June 22, my Executive Director and I packed up the van and headed to Fresno! We checked in at the Radisson Hotel, where I got to reunite with my roommate, Miss LA County Monet Bagneris. The very next morning, I was off to the Mayor's Welcome, where each contestant presented a gift to the mayor that represented the county in which she was representing at the pageant. To represent the rich agriculture of Ventura County, my aunt and I made a basket filled with avocados and lemons from our family's ranch that also included some guacamole ingredients and The Bailey Strickland secret guacomole recipe; the mayor seemed to really love it!

Now THAT'S a full trunk!!

All Loaded Up and Ready to Go!!

Arriving at the Hotel with my Teen! =)

Miss CA '11 Noelle Freeman and Me on Our Way to the Mayor Welcome!

Some Beautiful Alphas Enjoying Fresno City Hall!

Childhelp Garden Luncheon and Silent Auction

There are many ways in which someone can volunteer in his or her community; the key to finding community service that best fits your passions is discovering in yourself what gifts you can contribute and then finding organizations that speak to you. Childhelp has been close to my heart for many years- so when I was asked to contribute my singing voice to their garden luncheon, I was more than happy to!
On June 2, the Buena Ventura chapter of Childhelp held a garden luncheon and silent auction fundraiser at the lovely home of chapter president Shirley Kauffman. I kicked off the luncheon and speech presentations by singing the National Anthem, and later in the luncheon, I performed my Miss California talent to entertain the attendees. It was a lot of fun talking with the Childhelp chapter officers and directors; they really opened my eyes to the needs of child abuse victims in our community. I am hopeful that I will do more work with them in the upcoming months to raise funds for the organization that go towards the care of children who have been victims of abuse. For more information on Childhelp and how you can get involved, click on the following link: http://www.childhelp.org/pages/about
Overall, the fundraiser was very successful! Here are some photos from the event; enjoy! =)

The Lovely Luncheon Coming to Order!

Singing the National Anthem!

Me with Suzzy Canny, Shirley Kauffman, and Lynn Elder

Me with Marna DeVane and Suzzy Canny

OCS Walk for Wishes!

On May 19, I had the privilege of participating in my alma mater's 2nd Annual Walk for Wishes! The walk consisted of Oaks Christian students, family, and friends walking nearly three miles around the cities of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village to raise the amount of money needed to adopt another wish through the Make-a-Wish Foundation (around $5,000); it was a very successful walk! Dozens of students, friends, and parents attended the walk, including Thomas, the wonderful Make-a-Wish boy adopted by Oaks Christian last year; I had such an incredible time volunteering my services to the walk!
It is these kind of local events that inspire me to continue promoting my Hearts of Service platform in the community; the Oaks Christian student body is such a shining example of true hearts for service and helping others- I hope to continue promoting what they already do as Miss Ventura County '12!  =)

Me Leading the Walk with Thomas (in the wagon) and his Family!

Me with Thomas's family and OCHS Prefect Annalisa Figueroa!

Crowns for a Cause: Moorpark Relay for Life!

Relay for Life is always such an incredible event to be a part of; cancer affects us all in one way or another. We either suffer from it, know someone that suffers from it, or take care of someone who suffers from it; in either scenario, cancer has unfortunately been a part of everyone's lives-- but thanks to the funds raised by Relay for Life, this will hopefully someday come to a stop! Raising funds for cancer research and relief through Relay for Life brings us one step closer to finding a cure and eliminating cancer completely.

Me with Two Adorable Donors! =)

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of participating in the annual Moorpark Relay for Life walk! I put together a walking team titled "Crowns for a Cause" that consisted of wonderful members of my local pageant family! We put together a booth where people could make a donation to Relay for Life and try on a crown, take a photo with a titleholder, and take a walk around the track with a titleholder! We raised a total of $436 for the event, which made me very happy; every dollar counts in the fight against cancer!

Walking Around the Track!

Miss CA Princess Alyssa Horton and Me with Star Troopers!

Miss Simi Valley '11 Amanda Hawes and Me with Some Great Kids!

Part of my Wonderful Team and Me with Our Booth!

Blush Boutique: Official Sponsor of Miss VC!

I am beyond excited to announce that another fabulous clothing boutique has joined the ranks and become a sponsor of my trip to Miss California: Blush Boutique in Moorpark! Located on LA Avenue in the Walgreens Pavilion, Blush Boutique provides fabulous shopping right in the center of Moorpark! With stylish clothing, great quality, and excellent prices, the lovely ladies at Blush Boutique will take care of your wardrobe needs; they'll be donating an outfit for me to wear up at the state competition!! I couldn't be happier to have another fabulous business on my dream team!! Thank you, Blush Boutique, for your incredible support!!  =)

Shopping the Fabulous Selection!

Pegasus Fashion Lounge: Official Sponsor of Miss VC!

Posing Outside the Store!

When it comes to my journey to the Miss California Competition, sponsors are of vital importance! By purchasing advertising space in the Official Miss California Program Book, they provide the funding necessary for each of the 58 contestants to receive participation scholarships; in addition, it provides a wonderful opportunity for me to get to know the community I am representing. With that said, I am very happy to announce that Pegasus Fashion Lounge of Thousand Oaks has become an official sponsor for my journey to Miss California!
Pegasus Fashion Lounge is located off the 23 Freeway at Avenida de los Arboles in the Vons Shopping Center. The store's clothes are not only super chic but of great quality and well-priced! And not only is Pegasus purchasing advertising space- they are donating an outfit for me to wear at Miss California!! I am SO grateful to have such a wonderful business on our sponsorship team! Thank you, Pegasus Fashion Lounge!! =)

Thank you, Pegasus Fashion Lounge!!

                   **P.S. Check out their Facebook page: Pegasus Fashion Lounge on Facebook

Rainbow Children's Center Annual Spring Carnival

Me with Some of the Wonderful Rainbow Kids!

 Every year, the Rainbow Children's Center comes together with the Moorpark United Methodist Church and puts on a spring carnival! I was asked to appear at this year's carnival on the 27th and help run the "Princess Game" while taking pictures with the kids; it was such a blast! I had a fantastic time- and the kids did too!

I also had the opportunity to watch a presentation by the Dylan Gregory Hatch Foundation of Moorpark. The foundation raises money for children with special medical needs whose families struggle financially to afford medical treatment, tuition, and/or certain appliances that aid the daily welfare of the child. At the carnival, the Hatch family presented two recipients with extraordinary gifts, including a wheelchair lifting device, household appliances, and gift cards to places such as Target. It really moved me to get involved with the organization, I hope to do so soon!

Me Next to My Royal Lake, Holding my Royal Treasure Bowl!

Me with Another Adorable Rainbow Child!

The Dylan Gregory Hatch Foundation Presentation

Drawing the Grand Prize Winner of Two Disneyland Tickets!

Hanging Out with a Few of the Girl Scout Volunteers!

Hanging in the Face Painting Line with Three More Adorable Kids!