Selected as Miss Diamond Bar out of nine other contestants, senior Annemarie Branks was crowned during the Diamond Bar Pageant on March 17 and now takes on her job as an ambassador for the city.
“I was inspired by Alexander Miller, the Miss Diamond Bar of 2012, to participate in the pageant. I attended the event last year and thought that it was very neat,” Branks commented. The event was held in the DBHS Theater and participants were judged in a variety of categories, including swimsuit and evening gown, and were individually asked a final question regarding which platform they would support on stage to determine the winner. The runner ups who will become Brank’s court consists of 25-year-old Serena Avila-Mott, junior Melina Di Palma, junior Chika Udengwu, and senior Danielle Ritchie.
There was also a variety of scholarships awarded to the participants. Miss MVP was awarded to Serena Avila-Mott, Miss Congeniality to junior Vivian Li, Best Smile to junior Bria Smith, and Miss Photogenic to Palma.
To prepare for the pageant, contestants went through six weeks of training on interview skills, professional modeling sessions, makeup sessions, and fitness trainings. They also participated in a fashion show and a car wash fundraiser.
Branks is currently a senior at DBHS and the Varsity Captain of the school’s cross country team. She is in her second year of AP Studio Art and is planning on submitting her portfolio to College Board this May.
Prior to participating in the DB Pageant, Branks took part in the student ambassador program People2People, travelling to Europe and Scotland when she was just twelve years old.
“As Miss Diamond Bar, I hope to be more involved with the City of Diamond Bar and interact with the community more. I also hope to be helpful and fulfill my Miss Diamond Bar duties at all of the city’s events,” she stated.
