As through each year of the Newman Fall Festival comes one of its most anticipated events, the Miss Newman Pageant.

In a large crowd gathered and seated on the bleachers near the gazebo in Pioneer Park, a new Miss Newman Pageant Court was crowned. As eight Miss Newman contestants entered the gazebo and held each other's hands one by one, there was only one thought: Who will be crowned Miss Newman?

Following the announcements of the congeniality and runners-up, all the months and weeks of buildup have now led up to the grand finale. As attendees anxiously waited and votes were counted, a decision was made. Vanessa Perez was named Miss Newman as this year’s recipient.

Perez, a junior at Orestimba High, said she was surprised the moment her name was called as this was her first time in the competition. She added that she was going to be proud regardless of the outcome after she pushed herself to make it to this point of the competition.

“I’m still in shock, but I’m just so grateful to have this opportunity and … what I’ve accomplished through everything,” Perez said.

In addition to the competition’s winner, Perez was also recognized as Miss Congeniality, which is given to someone who displayed kindness and appreciation to others ahead of the event.

Kimberly Hurtado Coria and Lindsey Starr were named as the competition’s runners-up. Coria is a senior at Orestimba High and is involved in the school’s FFA Organization as its vice president and sectional reporter. Starr is a junior at Orestimba, where she has maintained a 4.0 GPA and is involved in the school’s pre-med club.

With all three a part of this year’s court, they will each receive $500 to their service project and $250 scholarship at the end of their tenure.

Prior to the Miss Newman Pageant competition, the Little Miss and Mr. Newman Pageant competitions were held. Siblings Penelope Cruickshank Artea and Landon Cruickshank Artea were named this year’s Little Miss and Mr. Newman receipts, respectively.

Lupe Artea, the mother of the two siblings, said it was a “very blessed and exciting” outcome and was happy for both of them.

The Miss Newman Pageant competitors were scored on three criteria, private interview, business and evening wear and was scaled from a score of one through 25, according to Christine Eddington, the pageant coordinator.

Additionally, each competitor also had to propose a service project. The individualized plans were based on the contestants’ assessment of the community’s needs, said Anastacia Yaya Munoz.

Perez’s proposal focuses on providing tote bags that include feminine, baby and hygiene products for single mothers. She said through her project, she wants to remind mothers that they’re more than just caregivers.

Coria’s project centered on providing for Newman senior residents care packages, letters and more. She said she wants to bring joy to the residents that have given back to the community and felt “it’s time for us to give back to them.”

Lastly, Starr’s project centers on taking care of local animals through donations that could be distributed to local businesses, shelters and individuals who may need help taking care of an animal. The Orestimba High junior said the project’s idea came as she often found animals in Newman and believes it can be due to the lack of necessities available.

How are contestants picked and where to apply?

Every year in April, the committee goes to Orestimba High to get information on potential Miss Newman contestants, Eddington said. A meeting is later held with the current pageant court, where attendees are provided information and an application.

The application is due the following month and the first 10 completed applications are accepted, Eddington said.

The preparation for the Little Miss and Mr. Newman Pageant competition begins in July, where parents fill out an application for children ages 5 to 7.