PRESS RELEASE: Local Resident Dr. Shelby Waldron Crowned Miss California United States 2026.

DR. SHELBY WALDRON, IE NATIVE, FORMER MISS BANNING & MISS BEAUMONT AND SPORT PSYCHOLOGY EXPERT, CROWNED MISS CALIFORNIA UNITED STATES 2026; LAUNCHES “#STAYINTHEGAME” INITIATIVE TO EMPOWER LOCAL YOUTH

Cherry Valley, CA – Local sport psychology professional, educator, and coach Dr. Shelby Waldron, Psy.D., CMPC, has officially been crowned Miss California United States 2026. Stepping onto the statewide stage, Dr. Waldron is utilizing her title and clinical expertise to champion her official platform, #StayInTheGame, an initiative dedicated to helping young athletes—specifically young girls—develop the confidence, resilience, and mental toughness required to thrive both on and off the field.

Dr. Waldron’s mission was born from a troubling national statistic: nearly 45% of young girls drop out of sports by age 14 due to low confidence and declining self-esteem.

“Sports gave me confidence, leadership skills, resilience, and opportunities that set me up for life,” said Dr. Waldron. “It breaks my heart to see girls walk away from sports because they don’t believe in themselves. My goal is to help every girl recognize her worth, build mental strength, and stay in the game.”

Over the past several years, Dr. Waldron has transformed her vision into measurable community action. Her regional and national accomplishments include:

• Developing a free confidence-building workbook currently distributed to more than 50 high schools across the United States.

• Collecting and donating more than 1,500 pieces of reusable sports equipment to youth networks and Boys & Girls Clubs to eliminate financial barriers.

• Hosting interactive mental performance and confidence-building workshops for young female athletes.

• Mentoring more than 200 athletes, students, and pageant contestants in positive self-talk and peak performance.

Dr. Waldron brings elite academic and athletic credentials to her platform. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Dallas while actively competing as an NCAA basketball and track & field athlete, followed by a Master of Science in Sport Psychology from California Baptist University (CBU). She recently completed her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Sport Psychology at the University of Arizona and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Sport Psychology at CBU.

Beyond her academic and clinical work, Dr. Waldron is a recognized national voice. She has walked at New York Fashion Week, appeared on FOX 5, hosted an Oscars Gala Red Carpet event, and partnered with Major League Baseball (MLB) Spring Training events to promote youth sports participation.

Looking ahead as Miss California United States 2026, Dr. Waldron is preparing to compete at the national Miss United States competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 2026.

Closer to home, her primary focus is expanding her community impact across San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Dr. Waldron is officially announcing plans to launch a specialized tri-city youth pageant and leadership program serving Banning, Beaumont, and Yucaipa. This grassroots program will provide direct mentorship, personal development training, and public speaking confidence to the next generation of local female leaders.

Local youth sports leagues, schools, and community organizations interested in hosting a #StayInTheGame workshop, organizing a sports equipment drive, or requesting an appearance from Dr. Waldron are encouraged to reach out via the contact information listed below.

Raylene Waldron, Media Manager 951-538-9826 Raylene0@yahoo.com