REEDLEY – The seven candidates for Miss Dinuba 2023 came to Reedley’s Xcelerate Fitness on Monday, Aug. 14 to practice their delivery and oration skills along with getting in a little workout.
The seven candidates in the running for the title – to be decided – at the pageant in Dinuba on Saturday, Sept. 9, came to the fitness center in north Reedley in a sponsored event. Florence Polanco Wilson, pageant coordinator, said the young women had the opportunity to practice and rehearse their chosen performance for the pageant.
The executive staff of Xcelerate Fitness were seated at a table using scoring sheets prepared to advise and rate each candidate’s delivery of their platforms. In addition, each asked the contestants specific questions that the panelists came up with on their own prior to the evening, according to Wilson.
“This really challenged the girls to be skillful with their responses and additionally to think quickly,” she said.
The contestants were given room to move freely throughout the gym’s large exercise room before performing their opening number pageant routine for the judges. That gave the contestants a warm up for a Zumba class that followed the performance. Wilson said the Zumba class was a new experience for all the contestants.
The free Zumba class attracted 50 women in the area, and a poster was displayed publicizing the pageant. Wilson called it an hour-long high energy experience.
“It’s so refreshing to have a business step in and do something for the young people of our community,” she said of the event. “Their responses to the candidates’ platforms as well will be something that we will review with the girls 1 on 1 to help them in the improvement in the weeks leading up to the Miss Dinuba Pageant.”
The Dinuba High seniors vying for the title of Miss Dinuba 2023 are (in alphabetical order) Catricia Alvarez, Isabella Benavides, Kimberly Camacho, Victoria Garza, Jaden Godoy, Leslie Moreno and Briana Smith.
