Murrieta Contestants Head to Miss California USA Pageant

Two locals are gearing up to represent Murrieta in the Miss California USA Pageant.

Rochelle Fajardo, 22, is among 200 contestants vying for the title Jan. 6-8 at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. Competing for Miss California Teen USA is Megan Sincock, 15.

Entering a pageant is a first for both.

Fajardo, who lived in French Valley as a teen and attended Temecula Valley High School, said she has done modeling since she was 12.

"I was always fascinated by pageants on TV," Fajardo said. "This is something new for me, it is really exciting."

On a whim, she said she applied online for the contest a few shorts months ago, and was surprised when she made it through two interviews and was invited to participate.

"When I signed up, I never thought I'd make it."

Of Filipino descent, Fajardo stands 5 feet 2 inches tall. She will be judged on her interview skills and in swimsuit and evening gown competitions. Instead of hiring a coach, Fajardo said she watches YouTube videos for advice on how to walk in pageants.

"It is a lot different than walking on a catwalk," she said. "They float across the floor."

Another challenge was gathering community sponsors, she said. She thanked her family for helping her pay the registration fee.

Fajardo loves fashion and plans to go into dentistry. While she saves up for school, she'd also like to get her first pageant win under her belt.

Megan is an all-around girl, who plays softball as a sophomore at Vista Murrieta High School and wants to rebuild a muscle car someday. She'd also like to attend Brigham Young University when the time comes.

For now the 5-feet-6-inches tall blond is setting her sights on the pageant, which she says she entered on suggestion from a friend.

"It's been a very long wait, I'm ecstatic," Megan said.

"I am excited to show that it is not just the typical pageant girls who enter this; it is also nice, kindhearted girls who are experiencing this great opportunity, the ones who want to make a difference in the world."

Megan said if she had to choose a favorite cause, it would Habitat for Humanity.

The winner of the Miss California USA pageant goes on to compete in Miss USA, a joint venture between Donald Trump and NBC Universal as part of the Miss Universe Organization.

Other local competitors in this year's Miss California USA are Brittany Dollarhide of La Cresta and Brittany Fetkin of Temecula.