On to state
Six girls from Yuma area to compete in Arizona State Cinderella Finals in Tucson
At least six girls from around Yuma County will go to Tucson to compete for titles in the Arizona State Cinderella Finals. Those traveling to Tucson include the winners in their respective age groups in recent Yuma County Cinderella Scholarship Pageants.
They are Desenni Cordova, who won the title of Overall Tot in the tot category, for girls between 3 and 6 years of age; Zaliyah Deahni Malone, Overall Mini Miss winner in the 7- to 9-year-old age group, and Rebecca Sanchez, Overall Teen winner in the 13- to 17-year-old bracket. There were no competitors in the Miss category, for girls between the ages of 10 and 12.
Alyse Negroni won in the title Overall Cover Girl, having been selected by judges as the competitor who best presented herself in the photography session held as part of the local pageant.
Founded in 1976, the Cinderella Scholarship Pageant is a youth development program aimed at instilling high moral values and ethical codes among participants. Pageant winners are selected based on poise, confidence and interview skills they display in their respective competitions.
The Tucson finals will bring together participants from around the state, who will be competing in the pageant for college scholarships.
Having won in their age groups, Desenni, Zaliya and Rebecca are required by pageant rules to complete in the state finals in order to retain their titles, said Sahreena Munoz, director of the Yuma County pageant.
All other girls who competed in the Yuma County pageant may but are not required to take part in the state pageant. Those who have so far committed to going on to Tucson are Alyse Negroni, Caitlyn Lieghanne Jones and Kyla LeeAnn Giroux, said Munoz.
Other girls competing in the Yuma County pageant were Braylen Welch, Emma Spencer, Arianna Izabella Rosas and Jaslene Spencer.
“We are very proud of the past and current Cinderella girls,” Munoz said. “Cinderella is more than just a pageant; it is a sisterhood that you will not find in any other pageant system.
“Our Cinderella girls are truly beautiful girls inside and out, and look forward to an amazing year doing various activities, performances and having fun. If we can make a difference in just one little girl’s life, then we have done our job.”
Co-directors of the Yuma County pageant were Tamra Jones and Ernie Munoz.