Miss Hesperia passes the crown

(This story originally appeared in the Hesperia Star Tuesday, February 8, 2005)

Hesperia's two high schools each have their own pageant queen.

The all-day Miss Hesperia Achievement Pageant at Imogene Garner Hook Junior High School in Victorville saw the school gymnasium packed with contestants, judges, family members and spectators. The pageant included contestants from Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley.

Outgoing Miss Hesperia Lindsey Merritt crowned Marisol Villagomez, an 18-year-old Hesperia High School student, as her successor. Villagomez was also chosen as Most Photogenic by the judges.

Candice Barkley, a 15-year-old Sultana High School Student, whose ambition is to attend a four-year college, was crowned Teen Miss Hesperia.

Brittany Elizabeth Peck, a 16-year-old Hesperia High School student with dreams of becoming a professional singer was named first runner-up in the teen division.

Cori Booth, a 12-year-old who attends Apple Valley Middle School and wants to be a hairstylist when she grows up, was crowned Young Miss Hesperia.

Winners earlier in the day included Pre-Teen Miss Hesperia Kylie Patten, Junior Miss Hesperia Kaylee Foraker, Pixie Miss Hesperia Taydra LeCleure, Toddler Miss Hesperia Alyssa Almond, Petite Miss Hesperia Hailee Williams and Baby Miss Hesperia Tristyn Dannie Wright.

The pageant was the sixth annual one in the High Desert held by Empire Pageants and comes two months after a competing pageant held by Star Power Productions.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at beau@hesperiastar.com or 956-7108.