Blog: Congressional Gold Medalist Honored at Miss California Pageant

Last Saturday evening in Fresno, California, Montford Point Marine, Marion Meredith Beal, was honored for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal (the nation's highest civilian award) at the Miss California pageant where his granddaughter, Monet Bagneris of Monrovia, competed for the title of Miss California.  Former World War II Sergeant and Chief Clerk Meredith Beal was voted "Honor Man" by his Platoon at Montford Point, a facility at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and later was the first enlisted black man to perform duty at the United States Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of being one of the first to integrate the United States Marine Corps.

Monet, the daughter of Dr. Jules S. Bagneris, III., and Michele Beal Bagneris, Esq. (former Monrovia City Attorney and current Pasadena City Attorney/City Prosecutor), won the pageant's talent award for outstanding performance in her singing and playing of Alicia Keys' hit song "If I Ain't Got You."  Monet Bagneris, Miss Los Angeles County 2012 for the Miss America Organization, is a University of Southern California graduate in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies, and her pageant platform is "Their Life, Your Hands: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles for our Children."  In 2010, Monet was awarded the title of "Miss Congeniality" at the Miss California competition for having the "heart and spirit of Miss America."

Monet looks forward to continuing her service as Miss Los Angeles County and is available to be booked for singing and speaking at special occasions, birthday celebrations, and fundraisers to name a few.  Monet can be contacted at monetbagneris.com.