Connelly freshman wins Miss Teen Downey title
Cornelia Connelly School freshman Jonina Capino was selected as Miss Teen Downey in the annual pageant held March 19 at the Downey Civic Center.
Jona (the name she prefers), 14, was among 74 contestants competing in three age categories in the event sponsored by the Downey Rose Float Association, a private nonprofit group which builds the city float for the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena Jan. 1.
Jona; Miss Downey 2011 Erika Gonzalez, 21; Junior Miss Downey Lunabe Oliver-Zamora, 12; and the 10 additional members of the three courts will represent the city and the float association at community and Chamber of Commerce events and fundraisers for local charities. Their first official appearance will be on March 26 at the annual ARC Walk for Independence at the Stonewood Center in Downey.
The young women performed in an opening musical number, modeled sportswear, business attire and evening gowns. They also competed in talent or essay showcases and in on-stage interviews. Jona won four categorical competitions:
- The talent competition - a ballet performance on pointe to "Don Quixote."
- Miss Teen Academics - for her excellent academic record at Connelly.
- The Fun Wear competition - for a creative costume and skit showcasing her skills as a pianist and ballerina.
- Best interview - for her answer to the question about whom she would choose to be for a day. Jona said she would be her "superhero," her mother, because her mother drives her to all of her rehearsals, classes and school, without complaint.
In June, Jona was named 2010 Dancer of the Year in a National Competition sponsored by On-Stage Dance Center in Downey. In February she won a Best in Category title for her solo, on point ballet performance in the Spotlight competition.
To read more about the March 19 pageant, go to these two recent newspaper articles:
The Los Angeles Wave - March 24
The Downey Patriot - March 25
