DINUBA – September has arrived, and so have the 2026 Miss Dinuba Pageant contestants.
Before the main event, the six high school students hoping to represent their community with a service project and a crown gave Dinuba Woman’s Club members a sneak peek of their passions. At the club’s first meeting of the season Sept. 8, each Miss Dinuba contestant had the chance to introduce themselves and share a bit about their service platform.
Whoever is crowned Miss Dinuba will then have the opportunity to engage with the community throughout the next year and promote her platform. Many platforms focus on educating younger Dinubans and showing them how to grow into strong leaders themselves.
Some of the contestants and their platforms include Kyana Gonzalez, “Speaking Without Shrinking,” Molly Wilson, “Rooted in Faith,” and Emily Reyes, “Healing Through Harmony.”
Contestant Cyarra Montejano is centering her platform on supporting families and children who come from single-parent households and Liyah Lopez’s platform aims to promote understanding and acceptance of individuals who communicate differently due to a disability. Alexandra Cantu’s platform will help younger students build confidence through improved literacy.
Pageant Coordinator Florence Polanco Wilson also shared background information about the Miss Dinuba Pageant with the members of the Dinuba Woman’s Club — many of whom were themselves in the pageant or have had daughters or granddaughters participate.
Although the pageant does not have full historical records of every Miss Dinuba, Polanco Wilson said they know it began in 1914 as part of the city’s Raisin Day celebrations. Polanco Wilson said her favorite tidbit of history is the story behind the 1945 Miss Dinuba, who the community celebrated with a reception and dance before sending her off to Santa Cruz for the Miss California competition.
“More than 100 years ago, this community was already gathering together to celebrate one of its wonderful young women,” Polanco Wilson said. “They invested in her, and they sent her off to represent Dinuba on a larger stage — and isn’t that what we’re really doing still today?”
Polanco Wilson said the dresses and hair styles may have changed, “but the purpose behind this program has remained remarkably consistent.”
“We find exceptional young women, we give them an opportunity to develop their confidence, communication skills, poise and leadership and their heart for service and then we ask them to take their skills out into the world while carrying the name of Dinuba with them,” Polanco Wilson said.
The Miss Dinuba Pageant is set for Sept. 19 at the Dinuba Veterans Memorial Building. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.
Presale tickets can be bought from any contestant or online at dinubachamber.com and cost $7 for students and $10 for adults. Tickets purchased at the door cost $10 for students and $15 for adults.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was updated at 7:20 p.m. pst Sept. 14 to reflect a change in the pageant venue.
