The smiles lit up for the cameras as young women from around the area competed in the first annual Miss Santa Monica USA on Sunday.
Held at the Sheraton Delfina Hotel in Santa Monica, about 40 contestants competed in front of more than 400 friends and family members.
Haley Fletcher was crowned the first Miss Santa Monica USA while Masha Krasnoff joined her as the first Miss Santa Monica Teen USA.
The winners will go on to compete at the Miss California USA and Miss California Teen USA pageants in the fall.
The other ladies who finished in the Top Five for Miss Santa Monica USA were Stacy Jones (first runner-up), Jessica Rice (second runner-up), Lauren Reid (third runner-up), and Karly Peterson (fourth runner-up).
The Miss Santa Monica Teen USA finalists were Chloe Hatfield (first runner-up), Nadia Mejia (second runner-up), Shayla Girardin (third runner-up), and Yary Flores (fourth runner-up).
Fletcher, 22, hopes to one-day make her way to New York to be on Broadway.
She currently attends the University of Southern California and is majoring in Opera. She is the winner of Kiwanis Classical voice competition and a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and is on the Dean’s List. She also loves learning about cross-cultural music and believes in fostering therapeutic musical expression in others.
Krasnoff is a 15-year-old ballerina from Rancho Palos Verdes.
She speaks English, Russian, and French and is currently learning a few other languages.
In addition to ballet, she enjoys many sports, singing, playing the piano, and reading. Krasnoff said she stands against any abuse of drugs and alcohol and will work to spread the word to teens in Santa Monica throughout her reign.
The hosts for the event were Emma Baker, Miss California Teen USA 2010, and Tami Farrell, Miss California USA 2009, Miss Malibu 2009, and Miss Teen USA 2003.
Erick Macek, a recent contestant on NBC’s “The Voice,” and the band Pullman Standard entertained the crowd.
The winners were granted prize packages including full entry fee paid to the Miss California USA or Miss California Teen USA pageant.
In addition, there were many other fabulous prizes and opportunities for the winners as well as all of the other participants.
The prize package is worth over $10,000 in goods and services.
The local charity partner for Miss Santa Monica this year was the Boys and Girls Club that strives to significantly enhance the lives of all youth to fulfill their potential as caring, productive, contributing citizens. A portion of the proceeds have been donated to the Santa Monica Boys & Girls Club Smart Girls Program.
Local business owner Kristen Bradford founded and produced the first annual Miss Santa Monica USA.
Bradford recently opened Crown Diva Boutique on Lincoln Boulevard, which is a one-stop shop for all pageant and prom needs.
She also owns the Miss Malibu pageant and is proud to host the eighth annual event at the Malibu Golf Club on August 19.
To learn more about the Miss Santa Monica Pageant or the upcoming Miss Malibu Pageant, visit www.crowndiva.com.
