Former Garlic Festival Queen Vanessa La Corte will compete this
weekend in the Miss California USA pageant in Fresno. She qualified
for the pageant by winning Miss Monterey County.
Former Garlic Festival Queen Vanessa La Corte will compete this weekend in the Miss California USA pageant in Fresno. She qualified for the pageant by winning Miss Monterey County.
“She’s feeling great. She’s been working really hard,” said La Corte’s mother, Karen. “It’s not just about getting up there and looking good. There’s a lot of preparation that goes into it.”
Vanessa La Corte has been busy training with Linda Pulido-Vargas and doing research for the pageant interviews.
“We’d like to say we’re hoping for the top 10, but everyone wants the crown. She’s wanted to be Miss USA since she was little and this is the road there,” Karen La Corte said.
Karen La Corte said her daughter has learned to be disciplined, confident and organized by participating in pageants. Although participants are not required to raise money for the Miss California pageant, Vanessa La Corte raised over $8,000 in sponsorships.
She’s also put a lot of energy toward her pageant platform on breast cancer research.
“She chose this because it hits close to home with her,” her mother explained. Several family members, including Vanessa’s grandmother, have died from breast cancer. In addition to researching the topic, she participates in fundraisers whenever possible. During the Relay for Life she raises money toward a breast cancer cure. She’s also furnished her apartment in light pink, from the bathroom tile to the kitchen appliances, to show her support for breast cancer research, which is often recognized by the symbol of a pink ribbon.
For this pageant, all 70 contestants performed in the preliminary round Friday, which included swimsuit and evening gown. Today they will participate in interviews and the main gala. After a group performance number on Sunday, judges will begin eliminations. The winner will then move on to the Miss USA pageant in March.
The 20-year-old is studying history at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. She hopes to attend law school in Southern California and become a sports attorney. She would also like to pursue a career as a soap opera actress.
