The Antelope Valley Times

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Miss AV Latina seeking contestants

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Miss AV Latina pageant organizers (from L to R) are Destiny Smith, Christina Zulu, Gloria Chavez, Lorena Chiquillo-Rubio and Waunette Cullors. The pageant takes place Saturday, April 26, at the Chimbole Cultural Center in Palmdale.
Miss AV Latina pageant organizers (from L to R) are Destiny Smith, Christina Zulu, Gloria Chavez, Lorena Chiquillo-Rubio and Waunette Cullors. The pageant takes place Saturday, April 26, at the Chimbole Cultural Center in Palmdale.

PALMDALE – Pageant officials are seeking contestants for the inaugural Miss AV Latina.

The pageant is open to girls and young women, between the ages of 4 and 17, who live and attend school in the Antelope Valley, according to Pageant Director Waunette Cullors.

“It’s open to any girl who has the willingness to promote the Hispanic and Latino culture,” Cullors said.

The categories and age requirements are as follows:

  • Miss AV Latina – ages 14-17
  • Junior Miss AV Latina – ages 11-13
  • Little Miss AV Latina – ages 6-10
  • Tiny Miss AV Latina – ages 4-5

Miss AV Latina takes place Saturday, April 26, at the Chimbole Cultural Center, located at 38350 Sierra Highway in Palmdale.

“The contestants will have the opportunity to experience self-confidence, make new friends and hopefully acquire a positive memory for life,” said organizer Gloria Chavez-Hernandez.

Contestants will be judged on their grace and stage presence, interviewing skills, impromptu questions, and a speech focusing on how their culture and heritage shapes their personal identity.

“The girls will be learning a lot, not only about their culture, but about themselves,” said Junior Miss Director Marisol Chavez. “We will all learn about the music, culture, and traditions that make the Latino community [unique].”

The winners will serve as ambassadors for the Antelope Valley’s Latino community for one year, participating in parades and community events, as well as a service project.

“They’ll take part in events such as the Cesar Chavez parade in Littlerock, Cinco de Mayo, the Tamale Festival, and all other community events and programs that highlight the Latino culture in the Antelope Valley,” Cullors said.

The inaugural Miss AV Latina pageant is sponsored by Pueblo Y Salud and supported by the AV Dreamers.

How to register

For application and fee information, call Waunette Cullors at 661-202-4484, Christina Zulu at 661-860-6543 or visit AVPageant.com. The application and fee deadline is this Friday, March 7, 2014.

Pageant orientations will take place from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, March 9, at the Palmdale Community House, located at 503 East Avenue Q-3 in Palmdale.

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39 comments for "Miss AV Latina seeking contestants"

  1. This discussion is good because to shows how much education needs to be done in the AV regarding, culture, race and politics. Now is anyone willing to attend a community meeting to deal with these issues or will folks hide and teach their children how to be anti particular people. As Bill Cosby said, with the title of his book ‘come on people’, we must move beyond negative thinking, the AV is for everyone, so let folks make their contribution in peace as we all remember the native history of the place we call home.

  2. Well does mean that the winner will be able to compete in the Miss AV Pageant? Is this started by some parent who’s child didn’t win in one of the community pageants? Touting that they have to show “their heritage” to run is ok but since they live in America and have chosen America as their country shouldn’t it be Americas’ heritage and not Latin Americas’ heritage that they should celebrate? My wife is from another country. She celebrates her heritage at home, not out in everyone else’s face because she has chosen to be an American. Sometimes people I just don’t think that you think things through before you do them!

  3. My dearest residents of Antelope Valley. It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. I know it was never anyone in particular to put up walls, but the walls are up. Maybe not by you specifically or by anyone in particular, but there are walls up.

    We try hard in this country to promote cultural diversity by having:

    February– Black History Month
    March– National Women’s History Month
    May– Asian/Pacific American Heritage & Older Americans
    May– Older Americans Month
    June– Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
    June– Caribbean American Heritage Month
    September/October– Hispanic Heritage Month
    October– National Disability Employment Awareness Month
    November– National American Indian Heritage Month

    Maybe we forgot this MAN: ” I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
    Martin Luther King Jr., I Have a Dream, 1963.

    No candidate will touch this topic because it may mean losing their campaign, but to hear grown people talk about RACE makes me think that perhaps I can move forward in building bridges between racial divides, economic divides, educational divides, criminal divides, poverty divides, rich divides, and the street called division on Lancaster, Calif. IF I AM ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, I WILL REMOVE THE STREET DIVISION AND ASK THE RESIDENTS FOR AN APPROPRIATE NAME TO PROMOTE EQUALITY AT ALL LEVELS.

    Finally I leave you with two thoughts:
    ” Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other.” -Mark Twain

    “It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.”- Cesar Chavez

    Oscar Mejia
    Lancaster City Council Candidate
    http://www.facebook.com/vote.oscar.mejia

      • It is not an issue.

        Los Angeles has many streets named after very important leaders that broke down barriers and promoted social and cultural diversity. This is merely an OPPORTUNITY to bring social and cultural awareness. Even in the military, cultural awareness is an important component in being able to work with other nations.

        It is not an issue, but an opportunity to promote cultural diversity.

        • “OPPORTUNITY” for who? You? So you can go down in the AV history as the guy who saved us poor uneducated from not knowing what diversity means. Get over yourself. “Division” simply means that the valley is divided by a north/south line. Obviously, this is an issue to you, or you wouldn’t be tempted to change the name. This valley is one of the easiest to get around in because of the well laid out streets. No need to change it. And if you are so inclined, then why not something like Antelope Avenue?

  4. Miss America pageant began in 1921. The first Black contestant was in 1970 (almost half a century later). Were Black women not in the US for those 49 years? The first Black winner was in 1984 (14 years later). Were there no Black women worthy of the crown? I’d be willing to bet the majority of Miss Palmdale/Lancaster/Antelope Valley winners have been white as well. So, you’ve had your caucasian pageants for decades, but if you want to spell it out, feel free to do so.
    Because people of color got fed up with the white superiority mentality, which teaches us that beautiful means white, blonde, and blue-eyed. So they (we) decided to stop begging whites for a fair chance in YOUR pageants and created their own. And you have the nerve to have a problem with it. But don’t worry, I’m sure the organizers are infected with the white superiority complex too, and will pick the whitest looking contestant in the pageant.

  5. Not sure why people are taking offense. It’s a pageant specific to promote the Hispanic / Latino culture and nothing more. Anyone can join and instead of bashing it – we should use it to promote fellowship. This valley is already seeing a wave of crimes – why not use these events to learn about one another? I hope the adults bashing this event are not talking about it in front of their young children – let’s not forget that racism is a learned behavior. It would be so awesome to have an array of participants of different background.

    • Well said. I’m considering entering my own daughter for a variety of reasons, the two main ones being:
      1. Due to her birthday being in December, she was unable to meet the age requirement for Little Miss Palmdale this past year, so the 4-5 age is wonderful for girls like her who are the right age, but have late birthdays.
      2. It would be nice to expose her to a part of her heritage that she would otherwise not see living here in the A.V. I grew up in Lancaster and didn’t speak a lick of Spanish like most of my friends did (all of various Central American countries, btw) and it was still fun to see how their families and cultures were, be it El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Dominican Republic, etc.

      As Lorena stated earlier, if you don’t agree with, then don’t participate. Nobody is forcing you people to come down to the Chimbole CULTURAL Center, or telling your children that they can’t participate due their race. Everybody is being silly and needs to tone down the reflexive “I’m offended!” remarks.

      On a side note, my daughter is of mixed heritage, which includes Filipino, Mexican, English, and Irish. And after doing the math, she’s more Irish than anything else. Presuming Latinos are all one color, one race, and of one mindset is just ludicrous and ignorant.

  6. Wow! What I gather from reading the AV Times daily is that anything with the words “latina”, “Spanish” or “hispanic” is always negative. Honestly, I’ve lived in Palmdale for over 11 years and I have encountered racism, ignorance and lack of respect in this valley on a daily basis. How can this valley in the middle of Southern California keep such a narrow-minded perspective? It is sickening and viewing the statistics, a lack of education and cultural acceptance is the main issue here. Many of the “non-colored” people living in the valley are middle class because one or both parents have a government job at EAFB, NG or LM, but mommy & daddy forgot to teach them manners and etiquitte, let alone a bit of proper tolerance. But I may be confusing you a bit, therefore; I will explain it more clearly, what we have here are “mules in horse harness”. Sad, sad, sad.

    • God made us all a bit different didn’t he? That’s what made America a great place. But there are many people, myself included, who don’t like other’s agendas being forced upon them. We, meaning “Americans”, sadly haven’t gotten to the point where we can all be Americans, be different, yet have commonality.
      “EducateEveryone”, I would like you to try something. Look at youself in the mirror and read the words you just said. Do you think you are being just a bit narrow-minded & negative yourself?
      I look forward to your response.
      V/r,
      CB

      • @CB, please abstain from using the word God in your remarks, it is not fair.

        Also, nobody is forcing you or any other “American” to do anything, where do you get such an absurd idea? Sadly, by the tone of your remarks, you are presuming to know who or what I am. CB, I bet my ancestors have been here longer than yours, I am half White/half Mexican (and gorgeous) and I respect both heritages equally. The remarks I made are factual and yes, racism is alive an well in this valley. Although I don’t agree with beauty pageants, Hispanics and any other race have the right to stand-up and say “enough is enough”; “white” beauty pageants are not fair and the judges will never, ever, ever get past the color of your skin- plain and simple.

        Wake up or better yet, stop the hypocrisy!

  7. I understand it is open to “any girl”…however, lets call it what it is. It is a pageant specifically for latina girls. To say “any girl” is really just trying to cover their own butts. I find this to be teaching kids about segregation of races. There is a pageant for Hispanic girls, there is a pageant for African American girls…what if we had a pageant aimed specifically at white children? Why not call it the “Miss White A.V”? I am sorry but I think it is horrible to have certain things directed at African Americans and Hispanics but if a white group were to do the same thing, people would scream racism and KKK. People…this segregation crap should have ended many years ago. Stop sticking kids into racial categories! This is why gangs are the way they are…its teaching them that one group of people are better than another. These girls should do COMMUNITY pageants…not racial ones. Win because of what you have to offer, not because of the color of your skin.

    • As someone said on the Facebook post, there is a Miss Greek Independence Pageant, Miss Irish America pageant, Miss Jewish South Florida pageant, Miss German America pageant and many, many others that are geared toward caucasian groups. If you are feeling left out, perhaps you can start a local AV version of one of the aforementioned pageants to celebrate and promote your heritage/culture. And just so you know, the Latina pageant has nothing to do with color of your skin. There are white Latinas (think Cameron Diaz) just as there are black Latinas (think Zoe Saldana). But don’t let facts get in the way of your emotional rant and sense of entitlement… SMH!

      • I won’t presume to speak for anyone else here – but I believe Miranda’s point was about it being DIVISIVE. Your suggestions just pile on.

        Would you suggest Caucasian Chamber of Commerce as well? The alternatives are certainly out there.

        Whatever. I would hope that parents would find something more productive for their bright, talented young women to do anyway.

      • I completely get what Miranda is saying. Yes, there may be Miss German American pageants and what not…but that is a different age category. Those participating in those pageants are 18 and over. They are not 5, 10, or even 15 years old. They are not children. This pageant is a bad message for young children. It’s obvious that even if a white, Asian, or African American child decided to join the pageant, the Hispanic will win. They want someone to represent the Hispanic culture. Who represents Hispanics more than Hispanics? Plus, I would be offended to put my child in this. It will make her feel like she is only good for culturally directed pageants as opposed to an overall pageant that judges her for more than her race. And yes, my daughter is Hispanic. I would put her in the regular pageant…but not this one. I want her to be judged on what she has to offer to everyone…not just Hispanics.

        • I agree. All this is doing is dividing the community. The current AV Community Queens are 2-Asian Americans, 2-Hispanic Americans, 1-African American and 1-White. Seems like a fair representation to me.

    • What a silly statement: “Win because of what you have to offer, not because of the color of your skin” ~ really? What does this mean? That Latinas come only in different shades of brown? Wow ~ talk about ignorance. Perhaps you need to read the content of this pageant ~ “to promote Hispanic culture”. I have lots of White friends that embrace and study the Hispanic culture. Me for example ~ I have taken the time to learn more about the Asian culture and I am Hispanic. If there was a pageant promoting Asian culture ~ I would sign up.

      People need to get over themselves and this ignorant way of thinking.

  8. Im sorry but this is not right why can’t these girls run in the community pageants such as Miss Palmdale or Miss Lancaster where every girl is able to run reguardless of race. What will this teach our children.? Should we have a Miss Japanese heritage or Miss African heritage that’s not fair let’s keep colors or heritage out of pageants and it fair for everyone. Also if you win in a community pageant you get to move in to Miss Av. What happens if you win this pageant.? I think this is unfair and not a good idea for the community.!

    • There is also not enough valid information. There have historically been a lot of fly by night pageants. Who exactly is the gatekeeper and in charge of the money? Do they have a license for this?

    • This is teaching our children about their heritage and family backgrounds…if you don’t know this, most of the countries in America are hispanic and this girls can also participate in any other pageant! If other races want to start a specific pageants they are in their right to… It is not unfair because this is not mandatory, if you don’t like it or find it necessary you don’t have to participate.

      • Lorena, You state that most countries in America are Hispanic, I was under the impression that there is only one country in America, That is America.

        • This pageant is open to all girls willing to promote hispanic heritage… It doesn’t matter color or race. Actually Hispanics have also whites, brown, black, yellow, and red people ;)

          • @ Lorena Technically North, Central and South America are collectively referred to as The Americas. The United States of America is shorted to America (or US or USA)

    • Nonsense, Mr Mejia…. pure and simple nonsense.

      I’m going to start a Miss Caucasian AV… How ’bout your daughter enter, because, you know, it would be a great opportunity for her to learn about other cultures.

      What a frackin’ joke….

      • It is sad to say this, but if you label something “caucasian”, or “white” you will be labeled a racist. Looks like we (Americans) still have a way to go before we all just get along…

        • Well said. What are we going to have next that will divide us more? Sick and tired of each race having it’s own “anything” while screaming racism if whites do the exact same thing. Maybe we should promote “White History Month” or “Miss White Antelope Valley”. Saying that it would help teach children in regards to their own culture is BS, that’s what the parents are for. As long as we continue down this divisive path, we will never come together as one people.

      • Nikolas ~ hmmmm ~ I bet you anything most of our kids are very well versed in White history since that’s mostly what our school system teaches. How about we do teach our kids other cultures i.e. Black, Hispanic, Asian, etc., etc.?

    • Spoken like a true politician, thanks, my sample ballot just came in the mail.