Miss Poway Pageant Reaches Historic Milestone

Miss Poway turns 50 this weekend—figuratively speaking.

The is in its 50th year, and this is the week that a new Miss Poway and Miss Teen Poway will be crowned. Eight women are hoping for the Miss Poway title at Saturday’s event sponsored by the Poway Lion’s Club, while nine teens are vying for the Miss Teen title.

The current titleholders—Miss Poway Alyssa Soto and Miss Teen Poway Jackie Foster—will pass on their crowns and duties to the new winners Saturday evening. The pageant is considered a scholarship pageant with an estimated $3,500 going to the crowned winners to help further their education.

The new queens will participate in community events, like the Poway Patriotic Parade, the Kiwanis Club’s Padres Luncheon and more. Councilman Jim Cunningham has agreed to return as master of ceremonies for the 50th celebration.

This year’s eight Miss Poway hopefuls include:

• Emily Campbell, 17, a Rancho Bernardo High School senior
• Brianna Edwards, 17, a Rancho Bernardo High School senior
• Abby Balcom, 20, a Palomar College sophomore
• Jamie Marliere, 24, an SDSU graduate
• Kayla Hoppe, 18, a Poway High School senior
• Megan Rogers, 17, a Del Norte High School junior
• Kristen Reynolds, 17, a Poway High School senior
• Pilar Altman, 17, a Poway High School junior

The nine Miss Teen Poway hopefuls include:

• Kelly Swiatkowski, 16, Poway High School junior
• Korie Swiatkowski, 16, Poway High School junior
• Katie Martin, 16, a Poway High School sophomore
• Beka Runnalls, 15, a Poway High School freshman
• Mary McMahon, 16, a Poway High School sophomore
• Veronica Thorson, 16, a Halstrom High School sophomore
• Esther Ryu, 15, a Rancho Bernardo High School freshman
• Natalie Smith, 15, a Poway High School freshman
• Amy Nguyen, 15, a Poway High School sophomore

Contestants will be escorted by members of the Westview High School’s Navy JROTC and other military units during the pageant.

Want to see who will be crowned the next Miss Poway and Miss Teen Poway? The pageant is April 18 at 4 p.m. at the . Tickets are $5 and available in advance by contacting pageant director Sharon Gruber at 619-823-8832 or by email misspoway@gmail.com. Good luck to all Miss Poway hopefuls!