Wearing cutoffs and a cow-print shirt, Colusa County Mini Miss Gia Rudiger, before she was crowned, told a grandstand full of people on June 7 that when they think of “Summer Tans and Cattle Brands” to think of her.
But it was the 12-year-old dancer’s performance on stage to a medley of Elvis tunes – not the 2023 Colusa County Fair theme – that impressed a panel of judges and made the already popular pageant memorable for years to come.
Rudiger, who won the 2023 title at the pre-fair event at the Colusa County Fairgrounds, is the daughter of Scott and Nina Rudiger. The seventh grader grew up in Maxwell, where she has trained in her hometown at her family’s dance studio, Stardust Dance, since she was able to walk.
While Rudiger was the only girl out of a field of six to receive an individual achievement award for the talent component of the pageant, talent counted just 25 percent of her total score.
Personal interviews, held the Saturday prior to the pageant, visual poise, and on-stage speech account for 75 percent, said Master of Ceremonies Moses Figueroa.
“An achievement award is given to each contestant in the area of competition in the area they scored the highest number of points.
Leyla Avera, of Colusa, was crowned first runner-up. The 12-year-old is the daughter of Christy and David Avera.
Avera performed a lyrical dance to “Solitude,” but the outgoing preteen received an individual award for her personal interview.
Rudiger and Avera both performed this year for Disneyland’s Main Street USA.
Aaliyah Gomez, 11, the daughter of Lyssa and Fabian Gomez, of Arbuckle was second runner-up. For her talent, Aaliyah did a dance routine to “California Gurlz,” but it was also her personal interview that stood out with the judges.
While the top three winners were dancers, all of the talented contestants left the pageant stage winners.
Kaydence Sheley, 11, the youngest in the group, belted out the song “Count on Me.”
Sheley, the daughter of JayAnne Saso and Allen Sheley, floated across stage in a stunning light blue princess-style ball gown to earn her individual award for visual poise.
Maya Lytal, 12, the daughter of Susie and Scott Lytal, of Arbuckle, was another singer in the group, performing “Rainbow.”
Lytal, in a hot pink sequined gown, also scored the highest in visual poise.
Teagan Murphy, the 12-year-old daughter of Megan and Bill Murphy, of Arbuckle, read a self-written “Story of My Life,” from the point of view of her pig.
She earned an individual award for her personal interview.
Murphy also was voted by the other contestants to be the friendliest and most enjoyable to be around, winning her the Friendship Award, the Mini Miss version of Miss Congeniality.
The winners each received trophies and flowers donated by longtime supporter Richie’s Florist.
Stardust Dance in Maxwell sponsors the Mini Miss Pageant. Instructor Jyl Torrens is the director.
Outgoing Mini Miss Whitney Traynham, along with 2022 Miss Colusa Colusa Chasey Miller, assisted in the pageant to present the crowns and awards.
Traynham performed “Popular,” the song she sang at last year’s Mini Miss pageant.■