LAKEPORT — The Konocti Vista Casino was electrified Saturday night by the energy of 14 young women and girls competing for the titles of Miss Lake County and Miss Lake County”s Outstanding Teen.
Approximately 400 people attended the event, according to Diana Dahl, marketing and publicity chairperson for the Miss Lake County scholarship program committee. Family, friends, current titleholders and former contestants cheered on the young women during the four-hour event.
The event culminated in the crowning of Jennifer Humble as Miss Lake County 2012 and Alice Crockett as Miss Lake County”s Outstanding Teen 2012.
Humble, 20, said this was her fourth time competing for Miss Lake County. “I”ve been working for this title for four years,” she said. “It”s been my dream since I was like 2-feet-tall. This is a really, really exciting day for me to finally have the crown on my head and be going to Miss California in June.”
Humble, who competed against three other women for her title, said she had been first-runner-up her first three tries.
“And now I finally have it, I finally captured the crown,” she said, smiling brightly.
Humble said winning Miss Lake County isn”t the end for her.
“I”m not stopping until I”m crowned Miss California or, hopefully someday, Miss America,” she said. “This is a really important stepping stone to me and means so much to me to finally be Miss Lake County, but I”m not quitting until I get the big crown with all the rhinestones.”
Crockett, 16, said it was her first time entering the Miss Lake County competition.
“I still haven”t grasped the fact that I”ve won,” Crockett said. “It felt unexpected.” Crockett, who competed against nine other girls for her title, added winning felt “unbelievable” and “surreal.”
Both Humble and Crockett said they plan to use their titles to improve the community.
“I”m going to be able to work with kids more often, not just in my dance studio, but around the lake, around the school districts,” Crockett said.
“I really want to help our community grow and become a hub of volunteerism,” Humble said.
More than $5,000 worth of scholarships and awards were handed out during the competition. Humble was awarded a $1,500 scholarship and Crockett won a $750 scholarship.
A new award to honor Bob Borghesani, was given out to the two winners. He was a longtime supporter of the Miss Lake County competition. District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, Borgeshani”s son Mark and Sandra Orchid, executive director of Miss Lake County scholarship committee, handed out the award to Crockett and Humble. The award was given out before the winners received their titles and crowns.
Outgoing titleholders Lauren Berlinn (Miss Lake County 2011) and Faith Hornby (Miss Lake County”s Outstanding Teen 2011) participated in the event as they passed their crowns along. Berlinn served as co-host along with Tony Moises, a 25-year veteran of the Miss California Pageant. Hornby also assisted with hosting duties.
Recently crowned Miss California 2011, Noelle Freeman, was also involved in the event, assisting Moises with hosting and handing out the awards.
