Miss Natomas Pageant Set for Saturday

The 2nd Annual Miss Natomas Pageant was held in 2011. / Courtesy Photo

BY EMILY MIBACH, INTERN
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

The 3rd Annual Miss Natomas Pageant will be held this weekend at Natomas High School.

“The pageant is a result of my effort to reward the girls who participate in the yearlong program,” said Monica Jones, founder of Lights of Tomorrow and winner of the N Factor’s “Outstanding Service to Youth” award in 2012.

Since 2010, Jones has been working with youth in Natomas through her nonprofit organization, offering life-skills classes and staging the annual pageant.

“I found a passion working with young people, and decided to start nonprofit.” said Jones.

Jones started the Lights of Tomorrow, formerly known as the Sisterhood, while working as a volunteer at Leroy Greene Middle School in 2006. At the end of the year, she would reward participants with an event.

“It used to be something like field trips,” she said. “But then I started the pageant.”

The Miss Natomas Pageant is open to any girl 11 to 24, but participants are typically elementary- to high school-age students, Jones said.

To compete for the Miss Natomas crown, young women must have completed 50 hours of community service, maintain a C-average in school, attend Lights of Tomorrow workshops, and practicing their public speaking skills. During the pageant, they are also graded on a gown walk.

Lights of Tomorrow workshops are open to boys and girls alike and focus on topics such as health and nutrition, how to get a job, resume building workshops, and how to properly dress for jobs. Other workshops have included a “know your rights” class, where Sacramento police talks about keeping a positive relationship with law enforcement, as well as an entrepreneurship class, where local business owners talk about turning personal passions into a business.

Reigning Miss Natomas Jantel Wells / Courtesy Photo

A Miss Natomas pageant was not held in 2012 because Jones decided to focus on offering workshops which would help young people develop skills needed to get into college such as essay writing and overcoming common challenges in math.

Jones said those who take her workshops and compete in the Miss Natomas pageant have been successful, pointing to improved academics among participants.

“(Lights of Tomorrow) is a great organization,” said Ryan Herche, Natomas Unified school board member and master of ceremonies for the 2011 pageant . “The heart of the organization is to empower young women to find and create their own solutions and careers.”

This year’s pageant will feature eight young women who represent Natomas High School, Inderkum High School, Natomas Middle School, Leroy Green Academy, St. Francis Elementary and Sacramento Charter High schools.

Winners of the Miss Natomas and Miss Junior Natomas titles will receive scholarships, will visit the state Capitol, participate in school board and city council meetings. Reigning Miss Natomas Jantel Wells was crowned in 2011.

“You meet a lot of people, and learn about a lot of things that are good advice for life,” said Wells. “I really learned a lot from Miss Monica’s classes.”

Added Herche, “This is far more than a pageant. It is an extensive series of workshops and classes that equip these young women for their future.”

The 3rd annual Miss Natomas Pageant will be held 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 22 at Natomas High School, 3301 Fong Ranch Road, in Sacramento. Tickets cost $10 per person at the door.

For more information about Lights of Tomorrow, visit http://www.lightsoftomorrow.com/

2nd Annual Miss Natomas Pageant participants at dress rehearsal / Courtesy Photo