Holly Angeles has a crown on her head and a sash across her chest. Someday she wants to trade them in for a microphone and a CNN blazer.
Recently crowned Miss Chula Vista, Angeles is a journalism major who is balancing her time making appearances for her hometown with preparing for her career as a broadcast reporter. She is interning for the KUSI Morning News, San Diego's top-ranked a.m. news program.
Pageant director Lorraine Johnson said she likes Angeles' chances of reaching her goals.
"Holly is very determined, very articulate and has a great personality," said Johnson. "She knows what she wants, she's a leader."
Angeles was born in Oakland, making her the first of her family to be born in America. She moved with her family to San Diego when she was 8. Throughout her elementary school years she won speech contests. While in high school she was involved in "link crew" as well.
These activities guided her down a path to become a journalist, she said. Angeles is a communications major with an emphasis in broadcast journalism and aspires to have a career reporting the news on television.
"I want to get to the CNN level," she said. "I want to be an Asian woman reporter on CNN."
Angeles, 20, might have always had a liking for public speaking in her younger years but it was her Southwestern College professors who brought the journalist out in her.
"Professor Max Branscomb is one of my idols, he opened my eyes to journalism," said Angeles. "But Professor Jerry McCormick took my love for it and helped me take action."
Angeles was the former assistant news editor and a staff writer for the Southwestern College Sun.
Serving as Miss Chula Vista is keeping her busy, she said. She has attended an array of events that include Bonitafest, Becky's House Walk Against Domestic Violence and a fundraiser for a family that lost its home in a fire. Instead of exhausting, Angeles said she finds the events energizing.
"When I'm not giving back, I'm empty inside," she said.
Miss Chula Vista is a scholarship pageant and Angeles was awarded $1,000 for college.
"My eyes lit up when (Johnson) said there were scholarships available," she said.
Serving as Miss Chula Vista has allowed her to meet many interesting people and attend many special events, she said.
"The program is really what you make it," Angeles said. "I want to be respected for what I say and not how I look."
Angeles said she is looking to empower women whenever possible. Sashes and crowns are not the end all be all. She said she hopes to be a woman with the power to be influential.
Angeles said she is the woman she is because of the man she loves the most-her father.
"I love my dad, I love my dad so much," Angeles said, tearing up.
Angeles insists she is a typical young woman. She watches reruns of "Sex in the City," reads and loves chocolate. She sheepishly admitted she likes to read newspapers and magazines that do not exactly employ the highest standards of journalistic excellence.
"I love tabloids and looking at what they're wearing," she confessed.
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