Photo by Marie Meneses
The Miss Malibu/Miss Beverly Hills and Miss Malibu Teen/Miss Beverly Hills Teen pageant was held Sunday at the Malibu Country Club. There were four categories in which the contestants were judged, including an interview before the competition, swimsuit, evening dress and the final question. The four contestants pictured above are all past or present Pepperdine students.
The winners are as follows: Miss Malibu 2014, Natasha Martinez; Miss Malibu Teen, Joneata Morgan; Miss Beverly Hills, Cassie Kunze; Miss Beverly Hills Teen, Savannah Palacio.
Miss Malibu Teen Contestant #8: Melissa Miller
Semi-finalist
Year: Freshman
Age: 17
Major: Economics
Is this your first pageant? “Yes.”
Why are you doing this? “I thought it would be a fun experience. I might even do the Miss Malibu Pageant next year.”
What would you like others to know about you? “The pageant helped me learn about public speaking and how to be poised.”
What is your biggest dream in life? “It was previously Pepperdine, but now that I achieved that, I want to be a lawyer so I can help my community.”
Miss Malibu Contestant #1: Amanda Cockrell
Year: 2013 Seaver Grad
Age: 23
Major: Psychology and French
Is this your first pageant? “I participated in the Miss Malibu contest last year; that was my first pageant.”
Why are you doing this? “I saw this as an opportunity to help others.”
What would you like others to know about you? “I’m a passionate social worker at USC. I love service.”
What is your biggest dream in life? “My biggest dream is to make an impact on one person.”
Miss Malibu Contestant #16: Leslie Wade (TBA)
Year: Graduate School
Age: 23
Major: MFA in Writing for Screen and Television
Is this your first pageant?
Why are you doing this?
What would you like others to know about you?
What is your biggest dream in life? “My career ambition is to be the President of the United States.”
**Leslie Wade could not be reached for comment.
Miss Malibu Contestant #22: Niki Forister
Winner: “Most Photogenic”
Year: Sophomore
Age: 19
Major: Integrated Marketing Communications
Is this your first pageant? “Yes.”
Why are you doing this? “It was so last minute. I heard about it last semester and I’ve always wanted to enter a pageant. I love the close-knit community Malibu is.”
What would you like others to know about you? “I’m very honest, outgoing and very optimistic.”
What is your biggest dream in life? “I’m not sure, but I have some immediate goals. I want to graduate Pepperdine and live in Southern California, hopefully Malibu. Malibu is my zen.”
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Follow Jacklyn Maza on Twitter: @jbizzmazzz
As published in the Sept. 12 issue of the Pepperdine Graphic.
