Aspiring animator crowned Almond Queen – Daily Democrat

Four high school seniors from the Capay Valley competed to be crowned Almond Queen during this year’s Almond Queen Pageant Saturday at the Western Yolo Grange Hall in Guinda answering current event questions and entertaining guests with their speeches.

Although the Almond Festival was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, former Almond Queens worked hard to ensure that the annual pageant would still happen so that local high school students wouldn’t lose out on the opportunity to scholarships for college.

Laura Gordon, who helped form the Almond Queen Association last year along with former queen Caitlin Zavala, said she was very passionate about continuing to support the Almond Festival and pageant because it was what people did growing up in the valley.

“We created the Almond Queen Association just over a year ago, which is a group of all former queens that we got together to be able to continue this tradition,” Gordon emphasized. “It makes me emotional to bring it back to where it used to be.”

Gordon and Zavala got together and pulled off the pageant last year even though the Almond Festival was canceled. The pair held most meetings through Zoom and had a smaller amount of guests attend the pageant.

Zavala, who has been pageant coordinator for the last five years, said this year hasn’t been as filled with complications as last year.

“Last year, the girls didn’t even walk around for the Almond Festival,” she stressed. “Anyone they wanted to attend the pageant was very limited and we did almost all of the meetings over Zoom.”

With things somewhat back to normal for this year’s pageant, Zavala noted that the pandemic taught them that a lot of things can be done via Zoom when needed to make things more convenient for contestants and organizers.

Zavala explained that each contestant for this year’s pageant had to write a speech, an essay and do interviews with each of the judges.

“So there’s a lot to the process before you’re actually crowned,” she highlighted. “And they gain speech, public speaking and interview skills, which I think will help in jobs later on. Plus, getting to be a part of the group of former queens that have come before you and that’s a pretty special thing.”

Zavala noted that even former contestants or members of the community involved in the pageant can be a part of the association if interested.

The Almond Queen receives a $1,000 scholarship for college, the runner-up gets a $250 scholarship and the Esparto Chamber of Commerce provided each contestant with a $50 sponsorship this year, according to Zavala.

“Even participating helps you further your education or career goals,” she added. “And they get treated like royalty at every stop they make.”

Karla Guijarro won this year’s pageant giving her the $1,000 scholarship to help in her educational aspirations after high school. She’s a beekeeper for KGBeez — her father’s business and sponsor during the pageant —  and is a member of the French club and cheer team at Esparto High School.

She plans to attend California State University, Sacramento to get a bachelor’s in art and then attend Cal Arts to major in graphic design, which she hopes will help her become an Imagineer or animator for Disney.

During the pageant, each contestant was asked if it is a disadvantage to come from a smaller school in a small community — such as Esparto High School — which Guijarro disagreed with because of the many opportunities and support she’s received in her last four years of school.

“What opportunities you have doesn’t depend on whether you come from a small or large community,” Guijarro began. “Rather, it’s about yourself… and the relationship and connections that you build that will help push you forward.”

She added that although she might not be able to include all of the AP classes and athletic opportunities larger schools might be able to offer, she has had great teachers who care about the students and inspire their future, which she said is irreplaceable.

Nayeli Guillen, runner-up for Almond Queen and voted Miss Congeniality by the other contestants, is from Madison and is the oldest of four. She plans to attend UC Santa Barbara to major in psychology and become a school therapist for young children in the future.

Bianca Elizabeth Kruup is a foreign exchange student from Estonia attending Esparto High School where she is vice-president of the French club and has completed over 50 hours of community service for the Leo’s Club. Kruup hopes to spend another year on exchange in Spain after graduating, making her the first Estonian to complete two exchange programs in a row.

Vanessa Anaya is from Winters. She is currently Associated Student Body and Future Farmers of America president, Leo’s club vice president and was a captain for the varsity volleyball team. She hopes to obtain a bachelor of science in human biology and then attend medical school to help her become a surgeon.