Nine to vie for Miss Yuma title

A young woman will be crowned queen of the county Saturday, Nov.7.

That's when a new Miss Yuma County will begin her reign.

But before that can happen, judges will have to choose the winner from nine contestants, and pageant organizers predict it won't be an easy decision.

"It's definitely going to be a hard decision," said Melanie Negroni, co-executive director. "These are really some great girls. They are just a fun group and they are so outgoing."

Negroni added that this year's contestants certainly do not fit into any mold.

"We have a very different group of girls this year. They are so diverse! We have three singers, four dancers, one is doing a monologue and another is playing guitar."

This year's Miss Yuma County Pageant is begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at Kofa High School auditorium.

Tickets are $20 and are available at Ambiance Salon, Dance Etc. and Sand and Stone Jewelry. Tickets can also be purchased from any contestant or through the pageant's Web site: MissYumaCounty.org.

"It's going to be a great show," Negroni said. "The theme is a surprise this year and we're at a new venue, so it's going to be completely different."

The current Miss Arizona, Savanna Troupe, will make an appearance at the Yuma pageant. Troupe will also perform her talent routine.

The nine contestants have been busy preparing for weeks, including spending time honing their speech and interview skills with local members of Toastmasters.

"What I've been most impressed about is the girls' determination to rehearse and do mock interviews," Negroni said.

That hard work will be rewarded with one crown and $6,000 in scholarship funds. "We give as much as the Miss Arizona Pageant gives, which is a huge accomplishment. We give more than any local pageant in Arizona and we pride ourselves on that."

But gathering up that kind of money is never easy.

"With the economy the way it is this year, we had a difficult time trying to raise the scholarships that we give," Negroni said. "Two of our most generous donors really stepped up for us. We would like to give a huge thank you to Underhill Transfer Company and Pacesetter Home Centers for supporting this wonderful program."

She added that pageant scholarships are important because many girls make the run for the crown as a way to earn money for college.

"Scholarships are why we do this event, to further these young women's education," Negroni said.

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THIS YEAR'S CONTESTANTS

Danielle Baker
• Daughter of Rudy and Christie Baker
• Senior at Kofa High School
• Platform: "Urbanization Awareness"

Ellen Beckett
• Daughter of Mark Beckett and Mary LeBrun
• Senior at Kofa High School
• Platform: "Awareness of Sexual Abuse and Assault of Children and Teens"

Rubi Centeno
• Daughter of Guadalupe Centeno
• Senior at Yuma Catholic High School
• Platform: "Abstinence Until Marriage"

Sarah Clark
• Daughter of Kent and Shara Johnston
• Senior at Kofa High School
• Platform: "The Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Abuse"

Katelyn Hamel
• Daughter of Christopher and Darcy Hamel
• Senior at Cibola High School  
• Platform: "Water Safety Awareness"

Jade Miller
• Daughter of David Delozier and DeLora Christie
• Senior at Kofa High School
• Platform: "Youth Involvement in Preventing Elderly Neglect"

Liliana Quintero
• Daughter of Alicia Esquivel
• Senior at Yuma High School
• Platform: "One Child, One Heart, One Opportunity"

Ivet  Romero
• Daughter of Ernesto and Guadalupe Romero
• Senior at Yuma High School
• Platform: "Find a Hero in You ... Saving Three Lives at a Time"

BreAnne West
• Daughter of Richard and Dawn West
• Sophomore at Arizona Western College
• Platform: "Precious Resources: Active Lifestyles for Healthy Kids"

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NEW LEADERSHIP
A new executive board is now overseeing Miss Yuma County:

• Annalisa McBride, executive director
• Melanie Negroni, co-executive director
• Andrea Priest, co-executive director
• Judy Blabe, treasurer