Miss Corona Del Mar USA, Nadia Mejia was crowned as Miss California USA 2016 on December 6’ 2015 at the Terrace Theater by the outgoing queen Natasha Martinez. The first runner up crown went to Miss Gold Counties, Catherine Watters where as Miss Pink Ribbons Crusade, Lauren Smolka was crowned as second runner-up. Miss Huntington Beach, Alexia Castillo and Miss Santa Monica, Carolina Urrea bagged the third and fourth runner-up titles respectively. In the same event Athenna Crosby was crowned as Miss Teen California USA 2016. Athenna will represent California at Miss Teen USA 2016 pageant next year.
Nadia is the daughter of local residents Gerardo and Kathy Mejia. The proud parents were quite ecstatic at Nadia’s victory and beamingly said: “When you see your child do it and accomplish something like this, there’s just no better feeling in the world. I am so proud of her. She may be Miss California now, but she’s still my goofy little girl and she’s coming home for Christmas.” The proud father said he certainly plans to be there in person to support his daughter when she will compete in the Miss USA 2016 pageant slated to be held in April.
Nadia Mejia herself said that her win came as a huge surprise as she was not expecting to win it. Her mother, Kathy, was Miss West Virginia in 1989, and she wanted to fulfill the dream of being Miss USA which her mother was unable to achieve! She reflected: “Miss USA pageant has always been something I wanted to accomplish.” Nadia is a model at Next Model Management, one of the biggest and most flourishing model agencies in the world.
After five years of competitions in California, three years as a teen participant and two as a Miss, Mejia said Saturday’s closing moments were difficult to illustrate, she was quite nervous as she recounted: “Standing there in the top five ... was the furthest I’d ever made it. To be there in the final two is unfathomable. Hearing my name was the most incredible feeling! It’s the biggest adrenaline rush!”
Mejia gives complete credits to God for her achievement and is swift to say she will be joining her dad for worship services at House of Grace in Ashland when she arrives her hometown. The Ecuadoran-born beauty queen is a 2013 graduate of Diamond Bar High School. Mejia will now represent California at the 2016 Miss USA pageant, where she hopes to be crowned by the reigning Miss USA Olivia Jordan from Oklahoma.
California has produced a Miss USA every decade except the 2000s and is ranked second highest among states in terms of placements. With a strong sash and ethereal demeanor do you think Nadia will be next Miss USA?