Growing up, Brooklyn Lowery never envisioned herself as a pageant queen. After years of modeling and some persuasion from her mother, Lowery began competing in pageants and she hasn’t looked back since. Now, Lowery has been selected to represent her hometown of Denair in the upcoming Miss California USA pageant.
“I am so excited,” said Lowery. “I’m so happy to be representing the Central Valley…pageantry is more prominent down in So Cal, so us Nor Cal girls have to represent.”
Lowery grew up in the area. Originally from Hilmar, she now lives in Denair and went to both Denair and Turlock high schools before graduating from THS in 2015. In high school, Lowery actively participated in Future Farmers of America competitions, and was named the 2012 Showmanship Champion for sheep. She was also part of her school’s cross country, track and field and swim teams.
“I do a lot of different things,” said Lowery, “not just pageants.”
Lowery is now a sophomore at Modesto Junior College with a double major in Psychology and Communications, and is currently employed at Monte Vista Small Animal Hospital. Prior to competing in pageants, Lowery had a different perspective of the pageant world.
“I thought it was a lot like 'Toddlers and Tiaras,' and thought it wasn’t nice girls,” said Lowery.
However, after competing in the Miss California Teen USA pageant, her views changed.
“Pageants have helped me grow as a person,” she said. “I’ve developed interview skills, and have made a lot of friends. They’re the most amazing women you’ll ever meet.”
Lowery has competed twice for Miss California Teen USA and made the prestigious top 20, and after becoming Miss Sacramento Valley USA in June she is now preparing to compete in the Miss California USA pageant this December in Long Beach. If Lowery wins the pageant she will go on to compete at the national Miss USA competition, which is televised live.
To get ready for the Miss California USA competition Lowery will go through interview coaching on topics including political issues and problems in local school districts and colleges. The USA pageant system is based on three categories: fitness, evening gown and interview. A lot of healthy eating and working out also go into her preparation, said Lowery.
“I’m missing all of my cupcakes and ice cream,” she said. “It takes a lot to get up there in a bikini.”
As for choosing a gown, Lowery said that she often likes to pick something “fun and cutting edge,” like the long-sleeved, high-necked gown she wore in a competition last year.
“It’s not the gown, but how you present yourself and how confident you feel in it,” said Lowery. “It should represent your personality.”
Lowery hopes that the stereotype around pageants – which she once believed – can end through awareness of the types of charity work that the organizations partake in.
“A lot of people have the impression that pageants are just judges and smiles,” she said.
The Miss USA Organization works with foundations to help the community, like helping with political activism and raising funds for breast cancer research. Additionally, the organization provides contestants with an opportunity to serve as spokeswomen for various cause alliances in front of a large audience.
“It’s really awesome to see all the work the organization does,” said Lowery. “It doesn’t just focus on who’s the prettiest, but who’s the most determined and wants to better their community.”
The Miss California USA competition will be held at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach from Dec. 2-4. Tickets for the pageant show can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com. Supporters who cannot attend the show in person can watch live at 4 p.m. on Dec. 4 online at www.ageantvision.com to see if Lowery is crowned Miss California.
