Torres is Miss Porterville
Some unexpected drama during the big reveal
Porterville High School’s Brianna Torres earned the crown of Veteran’s Homecoming Queen and Miss Porterville on Saturday.
After the big reveal of the 72nd annual pageant, Torres embraced friends, family and fellow contestants.
“Amazing, I am so excited. I am so happy with everyone who is on the court. It is going to be a great time. I’m so excited for the year to come,” Torres said, adding that the night was dedicated to someone who couldn’t watch in person — her older brother, Eric Torres, who is in the Air Force
stationed in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“Definitely dedicated to my brother, I miss him so much,” Torres said.
During the impromptu question portion of the pageant Torres told the crowd that if she could go anywhere in the world she would go to Colorado to visit her brother.
“I haven’t seen him since May and it’s been really hard,” she said. “He has a new baby girl. She is so cute and she is getting so big and I haven’t been there to see any of it. And I would really like to go see them.”
The seven contestants were judged on a 200word essay they turned in several days ago to the judges, an interview and evaluation earlier in the afternoon with the judges, and on their poise, personality and talent during the pageant.
For the talent portion, Torres recited a heartfelt patriotic monologue.
“I was originally going to sing a song, but I was looking through and I found this monologue and I was like I have to do that, it made me want to cry,” she said. “I just thought everyone would feel that in their heart.”
Joining Torres on the court, are Princess Calista Spohn of Porterville High, First Attendant Jasmyn Franco of Monache High, Second Attendant Abygail Saieva of Porterville High and Third Attendant Shelby Whinery of Porterville High.
Ashley Coulson of Granite Hills High was voted Miss Congeniality by her peers.
Jaqueline Prado of Granite Hills High received a participating award, a first for the pageant.
The night, however, will also be remembered for nearly having a “Steve Harvey moment.” In the 2015 Miss Universe Pageant, Harvey announced the wrong winner in front of a live audience.
During the finale on the Porterville Memorial Auditorium stage, emcee Dennis Townsend was ready to announce the last three big honors of the night — first attendant, princess and queen. To everyone’s surprise he walked away from the microphone and across the stage to first-year pageant director Emmylou Dowling.
After what seemed like an eternity, he walked back across and presented the unfortunate news. Understandably, the young ladies on the stage as well as those in the crowd were shocked and frustrated.
Dowling took full responsibility for the evening, explaining that the paper that had been handed to Townsend was incomplete. It had the top five names listed, but was missing the names of the girls who were to receive participation awards.
“It was just a miscommunication,” Dowling said. “I feel horrible because the girls, can you imagine, they all had to be yanked around. I accept responsibility for that. Lesson learned. We probably just should not do the participation awards.”
The participation awards were added by Dowling.
“I elected to do that (participation awards) this year because there was only seven girls participating, so there was a possibility five would get on the court, one would have Miss Congeniality and then one girl would walk away with absolutely nothing,” Dowling said. “I couldn’t bear the thought because I had grown so attached to these girls. I wanted everyone to walk away with something.”
While Torres celebrated, Dowling did her best to explain what happened to upset attendees.
The program began with some opening remarks by Don Dowling, head of the American Legion’s Veterans Day and Homecoming Day celebration.
The posting of National Colors and the Pledge of Allegiance was led by American Legion Post 20. Kara Skiles sand the national anthem.
A spirit dance by the seven contestants, choreographed by Darcy Jones of Deenies’ Dance Workshop, started the program.
Also during the program, special recognition was bestowed upon Monique Page for all of her years supporting and working with the pageant, and special presentations by Porterville City Councilmember Montey Reyes, and the Veterans Homecoming Committee were presented to outgoing Miss Porterville Caitlin Kelley and the 2016-2017 court. In addition, the Horns of Gold also performed at the pageant.
Torres and her court will reign over Porterville’s Veterans Day on Saturday, Nov. 11, and other patriotic festivities during the 2017-2018 year.