Young women ages 14 to 21 who aspire to be the next Miss Rancho Bernardo or Miss Teen RB Teen can learn more about the pageant during a candidate orientation meeting on Sunday afternoon.
Over $4,000 in scholarship money will be distributed among the 2025 pageant court and other award winners.
The court — the title holders and first-runners up — also serve as community ambassadors throughout the year.
“Our community ambassadors are asked to help out at various events, parades, benefits, ribbon cuttings and community celebrations of all kinds throughout the year, not only in Rancho Bernardo and Poway, but also throughout San Diego County,” said pageant director Gianne Brintwood.
The contestant orientation meeting will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6 at San Diego Oasis, 17170 Bernardo Center Drive in Rancho Bernardo.
The pageants -– Miss RB Teen for younger contestants and Miss RB for the older ones — are open to young women who live in or have attended school within the Poway Unified District boundaries. This includes students and graduates of private schools in the geographic area.
The all-day pageants are set for June 1 in the Seven Oaks Community Center in RB. The pageant finals, with family and friends in attendance, will begin at 4 p.m.
Contestants will be judged on personal interview, poise and personality, speech presented on stage in front of the judges and other contestants, business attire, impromptu question on stage in front of the pageant audience and evening attire, according to Brintwood.
The titleholders who are soon to crown their successors said their experiences have been memorable and educational.
“I have learned so much through Miss RB,” said Miss Rancho Bernardo 2024 Kennedy Stowe. “I have learned how fulfilling it can be to be involved in your community. It has also taught me to not be afraid of public speaking. I used to be scared of starting conversations, but my role as Miss RB forced me to break out of my shell and I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Stowe is an 18-year-old freshman at San Diego Mesa Community College. She is working on an associates degree in culinary arts and said she hopes to use that “to travel the world.”
“I never knew how involved the community is, even though I have lived in Rancho Bernardo my entire life,” said Miss RB Teen 2024 Sidney Antique. “I never knew about the community events and boards … that are as inclusive as can be. … It is wonderful to be a part of it.”
Antique, a 16-year-old junior at Rancho Bernardo High, said she aspires to earn a bachelor’s degree in biology, then attend medical school followed by four years of anesthesiology training so she can earn her board certification.
Both said the past year exceeded their expectations as titleholders.
“My experience as Miss RB was even better than I expected,” Stowe said. “There were so many more events and local organizations than I expected. I had countless opportunities to meet amazing new people and make new connections.”
She said those connections were especially “really great women. It is super inspiring to meet ionate and successful women in all sorts of professions.”
As for her favorite community activity, Stowe said it was the Casa de Amparo Crystal Gala.
“Not only was it fun to dress up really fancy, but we got to a great cause,” Stowe said. “Casa de Amparo is an organization that helps less fortunate kids and consistently holds great events that myself and the other queens are always eager to volunteer for.”
“Yes, it was everything and more,” Antique said. “I had never done a pageant before and this was a wonderful introduction. I’ve made some of the sweetest, dearest friends and have enjoyed every single event.”
She said her favorite was riding in last year’s Spirit of the Fourth Parade.
“I grew up in Rancho Bernardo going to the parade every year and seeing the princesses in cars,” Antique said. “This has been a full circle experience because now I got to be in the car, experiencing the parade from the other perspective.”
As for her advice to prospective contestants, Stowe said it is for them to be confident and themselves.
“Only good things can come out of this experience so give it your all and let your personality shine through,” Stowe said. “You won’t regret it.”
Antique said her advice for those “on the fence” about entering is “just do it. Jump in with two feet. At first it can be a very scary thing, I know … but it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences you will have.”
Antique said through pre-pageant workshops she learned how to carry herself as a young woman, be more confident and poised in the real world.
As the pageant is designed to be an educational experience for the contestants, there are workshops held during the weeks leading up to the pageant so they can “put their best foot forward in all public appearances as well as on stage,” Brintwood said.
The workshops address topics such as winning ways for interviews, thinking on your feet, wardrobe choices and negotiating peer pressure, she said.
Antique said she learned after winning how much little children view people such as herself as role models.
“I realized after putting on the crown and sash … how many little eyes are on you. You are a role model to the little girls and boys,” Antique said. “During a lot of events at Webb Park especially, the girls would go crazy seeing me in the tiara.”
Though she has enjoyed her reign as Miss Rancho Bernardo, Stowe said she does not plan on entering future pageants.
“Miss RB has been a great title to hold, but for now I’m going to put all my focus into school,” she said.
Antique said she enjoyed her time as Miss Teen RB so much that she decided to enter this year’s Miss Poway pageant.
Brintwood declined to provide the cost for contestants to enter the pageant, saying that making it public might discourage prospective contestants. She said for details to email her at [email protected] or call 858-922-1235.
“Girls may be sponsored or sell program ments to cover the cost of their registration fees,” Brentwood said. “We do not want any financial barriers to prevent interested girls from participating in our scholarship program.”
She added, “If a contestant needs help, we will assist in her finding sponsors.”
