LAKE COUNTY ? Miss Lake County Taylor-Paige Butler will compete in the final category of the Miss California Pageant today in Fresno.
Butler has spent most of the week engaged in competition leading to today”s final contest, which is in the Swim Suit category.
The Miss California Pageant is being held in three portions. Butler showcased her talent on Latin acoustic guitar on Wednesday and modeled eveningwear on Thursday.
Judges will make their selection following the swim suit competition.
Butler, 19, of Lakeport, has constructed her pageant platform around the importance of inner beauty.
She says that choosing beauty is a decision that we must make all day every day.
“True beauty is loving and believing in yourself. It is treating every person like the precious gift they are by selflessly giving of your time to help others in need and doing behind-the-scenes work while no one is looking. It is gladly putting others” needs and feeling before your own without expecting anything in return. It is respecting and cherishing the world around you. It is embracing each day for all that it is worth to leave your ?beauty mark” on the lives and memories of others,” she said. “As Ms. California, I plan to live every aspect of my life as an example of true beauty, and in doing so, leave my ?beauty mark” everywhere I may go.”
Butler has given of herself immensely to the Lake County community. She is a founding member of the Lake County youth anti-tobacco coalition, STOMP; served as a co-worship leader; and actively participated in Lake County Office of Education”s Leadership Boot Camp and its Youth Leadership Summit in 2003. She was recipient of the 2006 Lake County Stars Hero of the Year Award as well.
“I believe that combining the title of Miss California with the dedication and community service that goes along with the wonderful title, would allow others to observe me live the importance of my platform in my everyday life, thus exemplifying the essence of true beauty,” Butler said. “Serving as Miss California would provide an excellent channel for my platform to be observed and applied by everyone I can reach out to. I will show everyone that treating others with kindness and respect is not only a blessing to those around you, but is also a blessing to yourself.”
Miss Teen Lake County”s Outstanding Teen Katherine Anne Murphy has also been engaged in competition in Fresno this week. Murphy”s pageant platform is “Inspiring Community Service and Community Pride.” The 17-year-old Kelseyville High School junior said she feels there is a lack of pride among the youth in the county and she would like to change that.
“I chose this platform because I felt there was a negative attitude towards my town,” Murphy said. “Some students in my school have the attitude that Kelseyville is an impoverished town with limited options in jobs, education, and entertainment; in other words, an undesirable place to live. I know this attitude exists not only at my high school, but in many schools around the lake. I believe that this negative attitude could be reversed if people felt they could make a positive difference in their town by becoming involved with community service projects.”
Murphy lives her platform and has enjoyed involvement in the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Interact Club, Lions Club, Kelseyville Booster”s Club and Farm to Food program,
The American Breast Cancer Association and numerous fund-raising activities for local performing arts.
“The Miss America Organization (MAO) should embrace my platform because it can be applied to any town in America, and any community could benefit from it,” Murphy said.
“By choosing to support my platform MAO can show that pageant winners can make a real difference for the people and the state they represent.”
Miss Lake County Co-Executive Director Sandra Orchid said that the Miss California Pageant will be broadcast at a later date, which has yet to be determined.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
