A full house packed the Joshua Springs Thunderdome Saturday night for the 52nd annual Miss Yucca Valley Pageant. The event also marked the 20th year under the stewardship of the Rotary Club of Yucca Valley, who took the Pageant in a new direction as an academically based competition, trading the swimsuit and talent portions in 1999 for an essay and a speech based on the contestants being mentored by a prominent local woman.
Under the leadership of Pageant Director John Babrowski, 11 High School Juniors displayed their newly acquired poise and confidence in a 3-hour presentation. The event also marked the 20th year the Pageant has been hosted by Z107.7 owner-operators, Cindy and Gary Daigneault. Gary had previously emceed the event solo since the mid-80’s.
The contestants started the festivities with a lively dance number choregraphed by the 2018 court. Prior to the announcement of the winners, Gary Daigneault honored the late Jazz icon Nancy Wilson, who had co-emceed the event with him in the early 90’s. Wilson recently passed away at her home in Pioneertown. After Speeches, answering questions, and a formal walk, the winners were announced.
The 2019 “Miss Yucca Valley” sash and crown went to Isabella Falossi. 1st Princess went to Nellie Gutierrez, 2nd Princess, Kenya Humphrey, and 3rd Princess Annabelle Hunt. Falossi also won the Essay award, named for former Pageant Directors Sheldon and Tera Hough. Humphrey was named “Miss Photogenic” and Gutierrez “Miss Congeniality.” The money raised from program ad sales and attendance all goes to scholarships for the winners.
