Banning Homecoming Queen Selected as Finalist for California Competition

Banning High School Homecoming Queen Jesicah Lara is a selected finalist in a California pageant that takes place April 1 in Anaheim, the executive national director for the event said.

Jesicah, 17, is a senior, cheerleader, and softball standout who competed in January in the Miss California Teen 2012 contest in Palm Desert.

The April 1 pageant is California's 32nd Annual Homecoming Queen Selection at the Anaheim Plaza Hotel & Suites. The winner goes on to represent California in America's Homecoming Queen National Finals, according to the event's Memphis-based executive director, Peggy Lee Hester.

The California pageant includes the opportunity to win several scholarships, including one for internet voting, said Jesicah's mom, Melanie Lara.

Jesicah, who was elected Broncos Homecoming Queen in October, took part Jan. 6-7 in the 2012 Miss California Teen USA Competition at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.

During the January event, she won a social media award in which she recieved hundreds of votes on Facebook and Twitter.

Jesicah is a varsity cheerleader and varsity softball player. She was named in June 2011. She was an All-Mountain Valley League selection the year before.

Jesicah is also Banning's Associated Student Body President, and she says she plans to study biology or psychology at the university level so she can work with children in the fields of medicine or counseling.

She is seeking sponsors to help pay $300 in fees to participate in the California Homecoming Queen pageant. Donations that exceed the $300 fee will go to the Banning High School Cheer Team, to help them compete at the Sharp National Competition in April.

For more information, contact Melanie Lara at melne4ever@yahoo.com.