Contestants named for Cinco de Mayo royalty
Two boys and 13 girls are vying to make up the royalty of the 2017 Porterville Cinco de Mayo celebration, the Comision Honorifica Mexicana-americana Inc. (CHMA) announced.
Two boys and 13 girls are vying to make up the royalty of the 2017 Porterville Cinco de Mayo celebration, the Comision Honorifica Mexicana-americana Inc. (CHMA) announced.
The 15 young people are seeking the titles of Queen, Junior Miss, Little Miss and Little Mister.
The final selection of the royal court will take place at the pageant scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the CHMA Community Center, 466 E. Putnam Ave., Porterville.
They will reign over several events throughout the rest of the week, including the annual Cinco de Mayo Parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The selection for the Junior Miss, Little Miss and Little Mister is based solely on ticket sales. The Queen category is not only based on ticket sales, but includes an academic, talent and personal appearance component.
The queen candidates also have a personal enhancement program that includes a good citizenship portion in which the candidates perform a group folkloric dance. This year, in honor of CHMA’S 90th anniversary, they will be performing “El Jarabe Tapatio,” a popular and typical dance also known as the Mexican hat dance.
They each will have to do a talent, appear in an evening gown and answer a random question regarding CHMA and 5 de Mayo history.
Admission is free to the pageant and it is an opportunity for all family and friends to get a closer look at the candidates. The grand marshals will also be recognized during this event.
Seeking the title of Little Mister are Joshua Xavierjoven, 12, and son of Sylvia Jimenez and Mario Joven; and Anthony Gomez, 5, son of Maria Maciel.
Seeking the Little Miss Queen title are five young ladies. They are: Erica Lopez, 8, daughter of Stephanie and Erick Ramirez; Brenda Denise Herrera, 8, daughter of David and Brenda Lucio; Aleyah Mendoza, 7, daughter of Maria Maciel;
Abbegail Marie Anguiano, 7, daughter of Hilda and Cruz Anguiano; and Emily Marie Sanchez, 5, daughter of Crystal Cordero and Beau Sanchez.
Five girls are seeking the title of Junior Miss. They are:
Alyssa Marie Levario, 10, daughter of J.R. Levario; Angela Marie Nanez, 9, daughter of Monique Marinez and Angel Mendez; Mia Altagracia Moreno, 9, daughter of Victoria Moreno;
Jasmine Magana, 13, daughter of Heather and Gilberto Magana Jr.; and Jaelyne Neiblas, 13, daughter of Maricela and Chris Nieblas.
There are three candidates for Queen. They are:
Stefany Tadeo, 16, daughter of Gina Tadeo; Alyssa Marie Anguiano, 16, daughter of Hilda and Cruz Anguiano; and Azul Ceballos, 16, daughter of Brenda Roy Ceballos.