Artesia News

Artesia Meets Its New Royalty

 

A new Miss Artesia and Miss Artesia Teen, along with their royal court, have been chosen after a heated competition between 17 young women for only six open spots, on July 9’s Miss Artesia Pageant.

An ecstatic Megan Versteeg, last year’s Miss Artesia Princess, and an equally joyful and teary eyed Lauren Alvarez, graciously accepted their new titles as Miss Artesia and Miss Artesia Teen. Their royal court includes Miss Artesia Princess Evangelina Cuevas, also the winner of the Miss Congeniality Award, and Dominique Torres; and Miss Artesia Teen Princesses Natifah Young and Jeanette Pineda.

Other awards given to contestants were for sportswear and most photogenic. Olivia Versteeg, Megan Versteeg’s 13-year-old sister, won Best Sportswear for her motocross dirt bike outfit, and Lauren Alvarez, Miss Artesia Teen, won Most Photogenic.

The evening started out with a dance presentation, in which all the contestants were holding Mardi Gras masks (the theme for the pageant was “The Magic of Mardi Gras”), and struck poses on the runway for city photographer Robert Bragas. Following the dance performance, the 2004 court led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem.

Contestants were introduced by the MCs of the event, Erica Mendes and Maggee Ochoa, both past royalty of Artesia. The MCs asked the audience to refrain from any negative comments, as each contestant put plenty of work into the show. “I was up here before,” said Ochoa, “and the only thing on my mind was smiling and not tripping …”

During their introduction, each contestant had prepared a short speech introducing themselves and stating what they would do if selected for Miss Artesia or Miss Artesia Teen. For their speech, contestants were dressed in “business wear”. Here is what Miss Artesia and Miss Artesia Teen said during their speech:

Megan Versteeg, Miss Artesia, said “it would be a wonderful way to stay involved with the community.”

Lauren Alvarez said it “would be a great opportunity to interact with fellow Artesians” and that she is “passionate about community service.”

During the sportswear competition (which did not count toward selection of royalty), contestants were asked to don a sports wardrobe that best represented them and their personality. The most common outfits were cheerleaders (three) and tennis players (two). The most interesting outfit was Olivia Versteeg’s dirt bike gear.

Apparently, Lauren Alvarez views shopping as a sport, wearing her shopping attire and holding shopping bags from various clothing stores. Other sports wear included Alma Urcid’s knockout boxing gear; Mariel Lansang’s lasso swinging cowgirl look; and Serena Sedillo’s hard kicking martial arts outfit (anyone standing in Sedillo’s way is asking for trouble).

Artesia’s Mayor Larry R. Nelson gave a short announcement, and joked that one contestant was missed, pointing to Council member Sally Flowers. “It’s a great thing that the Miss Artesia Pageant can draw so much beauty and grace in one place.”

The mayor then asked the city council to join him and presented portraits (which are hung in City Hall) to the 2004 court. New portraits will be hung in City Hall in the future.

Contestants were asked one question in which they had to come up with an answer on the spot. Lauren Alvarez, when asked about the importance of parents teaching morality and values to children, answered, “I think parents are partially responsible … it is the responsibility of parents to teach moral values to their children, and the child’s responsibility to maintain those teachings.”

Megan Versteeg, asked if a woman should be president of the U.S., said, “It doesn’t matter if the president is male or female, what matters is the ability or quality of the president to lead this great nation.”

Some other answers that received a good reaction from the audience included Alma Urcid’s and Evangelina Cuevas’ responses. When asked what event in history Urcid would change, she replied the events that led up to World War II. “So many innocent people died … it is sad that so many people followed just one man.”

Cuevas was asked what she would like her first impression to be when encountering a room of people she does not know. Cuevas said it depended on the situation. “In a business setting, I would like the people in the room to know that I’m professional and intelligent … and at a community event, I would want people to see me as outgoing and kindhearted.”

Contestants were treated to a bit of inspiration from the visiting Miss California Teen Stephanie Brinks, formerly Miss Greater Lakewood. She said her life has changed so much over the last year and that all contestants will have bring something home “no matter what happens here tonight.” Brinks will be competing for Miss Teen USA.

The saddest moment of the night was the 2004 court’s farewell ceremony, when teary eyed Sharmaine Harrison and Melissa Centeno said their last speech as Miss Artesia Teen and Miss Artesia respectively. Also leaving was Artesia princesses Mary-Krystle Viramontes and Kayla Rodrigues.

In contrast, the happiest moments were the announcement and coronation of the new princesses, teen princesses, Miss Artesia Teen, and Miss Artesia. Friends and family members of the new royalty were very excited, and a few fathers even ran up to give their daughters a tissue. Megan Versteeg’s father was so excited that his daughter won Miss Artesia that he tripped on his run to hug his newly crowned daughter. While he almost took her down, VerSteeg very graciously caught her father and hugged him.

The Miss Artesia Pageant is directed by Linda Gonzales and Erin Miranda. For more information, please call Linda Gonzales (562) 857-3384.
The photos above and below show the festive and lighthearted beginning of this year's pageant -- an incredible dance performance that included every participant, the 2004 Court, and the ushers.
One of the ushers grabbed the sax and danced too! Melissa Perez models her dance number gown Jasmine Hooper poses like a pro Roxanne Ortiz waves to the crown Serena Sedillo blows a kiss
Latifa Young moves to the groove Monica Rios is laughing and having a great time Jeanette Pineda models her lovely white gown Alma Urcid dances and twirls Megan VerSteeg strikes a pose
Sportswear Competition
Serenna Sedillo Melissa Perez Dominique Standbury Roxanne Ortiz Sherry Joy Tauffer
Lauren Alvarez Tiffany Zing
Evangelina Cuevas
Jeanette Pineda
Mariel Lansang
Business Wear Competition
Serena Sedillo Alma Urced Mariel Lansang Dominique Torres Dominique Standbury
Tiffany Zing Jasmine Hooper Natifa Young Olivia VerSteeg Sherry Joy-Tauffer
Evening Gown Competition
Alma Urced
Dominique Standbury
Dominique Torres
Evangelina Cuevas
Jasmine Hooper
Jeanette Pineda
Lauren Alvarez
Mariel Lansang
Megan VerSteeg
Melissa Perez
Monica Rios
Natifa Young
Olivia VerSteeg
Roxanne Ortiz
Serena Sedillo
This past Artesia Royalty
looks stunning in
evening gowns

 

Left to Right
Maggee Ochoa
Erica Mendes
Erin Miranda
Sherry Joy Tauffer
 Tiffany Zing
Moments of the Night
2004 Miss Artesia Melissa Centeno and Miss Artesia Teen Sharmaine Harrison take their final walk
Miss California Teen congratulates Miss Artesia and gave encouraging words to all contestants
Escorts and 2004 Court
dressed for a Mardi-Gras Night
Melissa Centeno and Mary Krystle Viramontes sign the National Anthem
Melissa Centeno sports her cheerleader uniform
Kayla Rodrigues and Sharmaine Harrison in their sportswear
Sharmaine Harrison chose to be a ballerina
Mary Krystle Viramontes looks for people to save in her lifeguard outfit

Mardi-Gras sax player met greeted visitors with lively tunes
The new Miss Artesia and her father embrace at the end of the runway
Visiting Royalty from Downey and Lakewood
2005 Miss Artesia Court
2005 Royal Court with Artesia Royalty of the Past
2005 Miss Artesia Teen Court
Miss Artesia Court with
Executive Directors Linda Gonzalez and Erin Miranda
Miss Artesia Teen Court with
Executive Directors Linda Gonzalez and Erin Miranda