Amidst applause Saturday night at the Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel, the city of Garden Grove named its 2014 Miss Garden Grove and Miss Garden Grove Outstanding Teen.
Amidst applause Saturday night at the Anaheim Marriott Suites Hotel, the city of Garden Grove named its 2014 Miss Garden Grove and Miss Garden Grove Outstanding Teen.
Those titles and sparkling crowns were awarded to Miss Garden Grove 2014 Jessica Tonti, 19, and Outstanding Teen Sara Silberman,15.
Tonti also took home the title of Miss Congeniality, the Soroptimist International of Garden Grove award for $500 and Highest Talent Score.
“I am so excited and really stunned,” said Tonti. “With this opportunity I really can't wait to give back to our community that has made me the woman I am today.”
Tonti performed a dance number for the talent portion of the scholarship competition; she has been dancing for nine years and is currently studying at Goldenwest College in Huntington Beach, with business management as her focus.
“I'm so excited. This is incredible to be able to represent the city of Garden Grove. It's such an honor,” said Silberman. “I have seen Miss America as a role model and through this contest I have learned so much about myself and about public speaking.”
Silberman has been dancing for 13 years and is studying classical dance at the Orange County School of Arts in Santa Ana.
Silberman took home the $200 Beverly Hansen-Lidgard Scholarship.
Miss Garden Grove first runner-up is Rachel Langan, 23; second is Amanda Burns, 17; third is Christy Genta, 20; and fourth is Krystyna Soch, 20.
Outstanding Teen first runner-up is Jenna Tower, 14, and second is Heather Leffler, 14.
Through the generosity of the Garden Grove community, the Miss Garden Grove Pageant awarded $6,375 in college scholarships at the 2014 pageant.
The Miss Garden Grove Pageant and Scholarship Organization event is the official preliminary to the Miss California and Miss America pageants.
Both Tonti and Silberman will go on to compete for the titles of Miss California 2014 and Miss California Outstanding Teen 2014 in June in Fresno.
