When Sabrina Lewis was crowned Miss California 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center on Saturday night, the 25-year-old Los Angeles resident became only the second black contestant to win the title.
Lewis, an equestrian who has his eye on the 2028 Summer Olympics, will represent California in the 2024 Miss America pageant to be held in Connecticut late this year or early next year.
The 1.70 meter tall Georgian native is no stranger to festival life. She has been competing in beauty pageants since she was eight and was Miss California USA 2021.
Despite that experience, preparing for the Miss California pageant wasn’t easy, Lewis said, while also completing her master’s degree in public administration from UC Berkeley, working full-time as a model and practicing show jumping.
Miss California 2023 Sabrina Lewis (Miss Berkeley) reacts after hearing her name as runner-up Asha Bhattacharya (Miss Anaheim Hills) applauds during the 99th edition of the beauty pageant July 1, 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center.
“There was a lot to compensate for, but I’m glad I did it,” said Lewis shortly after being crowned Miss California 2022 by Catherine Liang in front of an estimated 900 spectators.
“The best advice I can give to anyone who competes is to take a nap at every break.”
Lewis was recognized as the best of 49 contestants during the three-hour competition, winning awards including a $20,000 scholarship.
The first runner-up went to Miss Anaheim Hills Asha Bhattacharya ($7,000 scholarship). The remaining five in order were Miss Riverside City Taylor Yamane ($5,000), Miss Northern California Mahika Valluri ($4,000) and Miss Los Angeles County Katie Tessier ($2,500).
This was the first time in 26 years that the pageant was not held in Fresno. Organizers left the state’s fifth largest city for Visalia, California’s 40th most populous city with approximately 26% of Fresno’s 545,000 residents.
Miss California 2023 Sabrina Lewis (Miss Berkeley, right) and runner-up Asha Bhattacharya (Miss Anaheim Hills) wait to hear the winner at the 99th edition of the beauty pageant on July 1, 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center.
Miss California will stay in Visalia for five years.
Lewis is the first black man to win the state championship since Los Angeles’ Simone Marie Stephens in 1987.
California has not won the Miss America pageant since Debra Sue Moffett in 1982.
Miss Berkeley Sabrina Lewis spoke about her journey as an African American equestrian during the Miss California pageant on July 1, 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center.
Lewis — the only daughter of Richard and Sylvia Lewis (he recently retired from the Department of Veterans Affairs; she works for an agency within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) — spoke about her journey as an equestrian as part of her talent showcase.
“There is no talent component in the Miss USA system; and I felt like a part of me was missing because a big part of my life is being an equestrian and riding horses,” Lewis said. “I’ve been riding since I was five.”
She would like to compete in the 2028 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Los Angeles, where she currently resides. To get there, she needs a horse.
“I have a saddle company, a glove company, a helmet company, but I need the main component, which is a horse, to come to the Olympics and compete at this high level,” she said. She reckons winning the national title will help.
Miss Berkeley Sabrina Lewis competes in the health and fitness portion of the Miss California pageant to be held July 1, 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center.
“You know, I didn’t win Miss USA, but I have a strong belief that I would make a wonderful national title holder and a great Miss America,” said Lewis, who is fluent in Spanish.
Lewis, whose career goal is to become a professor of public policy and nonprofit studies, earned her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Georgia this year.
She would like the pageant to be more involved with veteran service organizations. Her father is an army veteran.
Miss America is making changes
The Miss America Organization adapted the contest this year to give contestants the opportunity to present HERstory, a slide show about her life.
Top 5 finalist Asha Bhattacharya (Miss Anaheim Hills) answers a question during the 99th edition of the Miss California pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
Lewis and the other 12 contestants entered a health and fitness contest, which earned 20% of the total points. This was the first time since the swimsuit category was abolished in 2019 that contestants were judged on their fitness.
A private interview conducted by the judges accounted for 30% of the total. Talent (20%), evening dress (20%) and conversation on stage (10%) also contributed to the overall result.
More pageant notes
▪ Miss San Francisco Monroe Lace failed to become the first transgender woman to win the California title. However, the UCLA grad made the final 12 and won the People’s Choice Award.
Miss San Francisco Monroe Lace performs the monologue “Phenomenal Woman” during the Miss California pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
▪ Miss Tulare County Elizabeth Sartuche, a Fresno State graduate student in Communications, was the only local candidate to make the final 12. She played the flute for her talent.
▪ Miss California CEO Russ Gladden, who called Visalia “the crown jewel of the San Joaquín Valley,” said donations from the Pistachio Association have saved the organization from bankruptcy during the pandemic.
Miss Tulare County Elizabeth Sartuche plays the flute during the Miss California pageant held July 1, 2023 at the Visalia Convention Center.
▪ Marlie Wright of San Diego won the Miss California’s Teen crown during Saturday afternoon’s beauty pageant.
▪ Other local Miss California contestants included Pazao Lor (Central California), Bella Rodríguez (City of Fresno), Loie Madsen (Clovis), Laura Sparks (Kings County), Ananya Veerapaneni (Merced County), Chelsie Muro (Sanger/Sunnyside), and Angela Adade (San Joaquin).
▪ Visalia Mayor Brian Poochigian said in a two-minute speech that he looks forward to hosting the 100th pageant next year.
Miss Northern California Mahika Valluri performs a Bollywood dance during the Miss California pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
Top 5 finalist Sabrina Lewis (Miss Berkeley) answers a question during the 99th edition of the Miss California Pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
Top 5 finalist Taylor Yamane (Miss Riverside City) answers a question during the 99th edition of the Miss California Pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
Top 5 finalist Mahika Valluri (Miss Northern California) answers a question during the 99th edition of the Miss California Pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
Top 5 finalist Katie Tessier (Miss Los Ángeles County) answers a question during the 99th edition of the Miss California Pageant at the Visalia Convention Center on July 1, 2023.
