COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Eight young ladies took to the stage for the Mini Miss Pageant on June 5, with a Colusa girl winning the 2024 crown.
Reese Cunningham Vedo, 12, who will be an eighth grader at Maxwell Elementary School in the fall, is the daughter of Britney Cunningham and Matt Vedo.
The pageant is a longstanding pre-fair event that includes a talent competition, a unique feature to pageants in the region, said Master of Ceremonies Moses Figueroa.
Cunningham Vedo, whose monologue of Paul Harvey’s “God Made a Farmer,” earned her an individual award for talent, has been performing in theater arts since she was seven. She was crowned first runner-up in the Mini Miss Pageant in 2022, when she was 10.
Cunningham Vedo, wearing a hot pink tiered ball gown, was escorted on stage by her father. She raises beef with her family and became a member of the National Hereford Association at the age of 10. She showed livestock at the fair this year, including breeding stock. She eventually plans to go into law enforcement.
All eight contestants met with the judges for their personal interview prior to the event to give the judges a sense of each contestant’s values, goals, aspirations, and personality.
“The judges are looking for a well-rounded contestant to represent our country as Mini Miss, which is why the Mini Miss pageant is judged equally in all areas of competition: 25% for interview, 25% for speech, 25% for talent, and 25% for visual poise,” Figueroa said.
In addition to the special talent award, which comes with a $100 scholarship from Omega Nu, Cunningham Vedo received an individual award for visual poise.
Rachel Shadley, 12, of Maxwell, was crowned first runner-up.
Shadley, the daughter of Rob and Summer Shadley, will be a seventh grader at Maxwell Elementary
School in the fall.
Shadley performed a moving sign language interpretation to Lauren Daigle’s “Rescue” for her talent. She earned her individual award for her personal interview.
Her hobbies include softball, basketball, and volleyball. She showed a lamb at the Colusa County Fair and plans to eventually go to college to earn an agriculture degree and farm with her family.
Kennedy Durrough, of Arbuckle, earned the title second runner-up. She is the daughter of Rex and
Carlyn Durrrough.
The 12-year-old sang “Lean of Me” as her talent and won an individual award for her communication skills. She is a member of Arbuckle 4-h and shows sheep at the fair.
Durrough will be an eighth grader at Johnson Jr. High School in the fall.
Kylee Garcia, 12, of Colusa, was chosen by the other contestants for the Friendship Award, the Mini Miss version of Miss Congeniality.
Garcia is the daughter of Andy and Kelli Griffith Garcia. She danced to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and earned her individual award for her personal interview.
Garcia, who participates in multiple sports and 4-H, will be in the seventh grade at Egling Middle School in the fall.
Paula Ambriz, of Williams, performed a combination cheer/gymnastic/dance routine to “Shake it Off” for the talent competition in the pageant.
Ambriz is the daughter of Jonas and Brenda Venegas. The 12-year-old is a prior Colusa County Spelling Bee Champion and earned her individual award for her personal interview. She will be a seventh grader next year at Williams Upper Elementary School.
June Karlonas, 11, is the daughter of Jeremiah and Jessica Karlonas, of Williams. She performed a comedy act for her talent and earned her individual award for her personal interview.
Karlonas enjoys swimming, dancing, and sports and would someday like to become a teacher. She will be a seventh grader at Maxwell Elementary School in the fall.
Ava Gutierrez is the 11-year-old daughter of Juan and Tyler Gutierrz, of Maxwell. She participates in sports, cheer, and dance.
Gutierrez will be a seventh grader at Maxwell Middle School in the fall. She is an honor roll student with perfect attendance and has received awards for cheerleading.
Gutierrez performed a dance routine for her talent and earned her individual award in the Mini Miss competition for her personal interview.
Zayra Saavedra, of Arbuckle, was the youngest contestant in the pageant.
Saavedra, 10, is the daughter of Ruben Saavedra and Janet Abundez.
For her talent, Saavedra, a bundle of exuberance on stage, performed ballet folklórico in traditional costume to “La Negra.” She earned her individual award for visual poise.
Saavedra will be in the fifth grade at Arbuckle Elementary School in the fall.
The Mini Miss Pageant is sponsored by Stardust Dance.
Jyl Torrens is the pageant director.