The 53rd Newman Fall Festival crowned their newest royalty Saturday night on the iconic gazebo stage with Addison Holder, Robert Salazar, Arely Reynoso, Rhyan Marroquín, and Anaya Kowalskie taking the top honors.
The event, held Saturday, started with the young contestants for Little Miss and Mr. Newman taking the stage for their first performance, dancing to the upbeat tune of "I’m Still Standing." This helped them shake off the initial jitters, and soon, the stage was filled with smiles and excitement as the children showcased their talents.
Lola Hinkston led the charge among the Little Miss contestants, expressing her desire to become Little Miss Newman so she "can be big." Her favorite place is at her grandma's, where she enjoys playing and watching TV.
Jolene Samano followed, sharing her love for being a big sister and her dream of becoming a hairstylist. She looks up to her mother as her hero and wants to be Little Miss Newman because she also wants to "get big."
Addison Holder, who ultimately won the title of Little Miss Newman, charmed the judges with her aspirations of becoming a dance teacher in Newman and her love for Disneyland, particularly the Aladdin ride. She said she wants to take part in all the parades and activities because she loves Newman.
Erin Velasquez expressed her love for being an older sister and her admiration for her mother, who she says is her hero for always feeding her when she's hungry. She dreams of becoming a makeup artist like her mom and is fond of Disneyland for the rides.
Valerie Magdaleno showcased her passion for teaching, sharing her desire to help children who struggle with reading and writing. Her hero is her dad, whom she admires for his perseverance in races. Valerie wants to represent the girls of Newman, noting that this is her last year to run for Little Miss Newman.
Aubrie Baie brought her unique perspective as an only child, enjoying the attention it brings. She dreams of traveling to Hawaii and admires her mom for always helping and protecting her. She wants to be Little Miss Newman because she loves makeup and dresses.
On the boys' side, Robert Salazar won the title of Little Mr. Newman. He enjoys being the middle child, has aspirations of becoming an explorer, hunter, and fisherman, and admires his grandpa, whom he considers his hero. Robert said he wanted to be Little Mr. Newman because it’s fun to dance and go on rides.
Izaya Martinez shared his love for the color black and his ambition to become a doctor to save people. His hero is his mom, who he says protects him. He wants to be Little Mr. Newman because he enjoys the Ferris Wheel at the fair.
Blake Doudna dreams of being a police officer to "arrest bad guys." He loves his mom’s spaghetti and meatballs and wants to be Little Mr. Newman to participate in parades.
Logan Jelen wants to be an engineer to build things like a pool in the park. His hero is Batman, and he dreams of visiting Mexico for its beaches and avocados. Logan said he wants to be Little Mr. Newman for fun and to meet new people.
Edgar Martinez aspires to play football for the Raiders. His hero is his dad, who loves and takes care of him. Edgar wants to be Little Mr. Newman to show kindness to his community.
Miss Newman Contest
The Miss Newman contest began with an energetic performance to the tune of "Footloose," setting a lively tone for the evening. Before the main event, the contestants had the opportunity to engage in private interviews with the judges, allowing them to showcase their personalities and aspirations.
Johana Esquivez kicked off the Career Wear/Business Wear portion by sharing her love for reading and spending time with her dogs. She dreams of becoming an ultrasound tech or nurse and wants to be Miss Newman to serve as a role model for younger children.
Hannah Taft, deeply involved in the Newman Fire Department, expressed her desire to become an EMT and continue serving her community. She loves Newman and wants to be Miss Newman to stay active in community events.
Anaya Kowalskie, an honors student and dancer, has her sights set on becoming a kindergarten or high school English teacher. She shared that she wants to give back to the community that has supported her throughout her life. She was crowned Miss Congeniality, being recognized for her friendly and supportive nature throughout the competition.
Kelly Zapien is passionate about academics and sports, with a long-term goal of becoming a school principal. Kelly wants to be Miss Newman to make others feel the same happiness she experienced when learning English as a child in Newman.
Arely Reynoso, who was ultimately crowned Miss Newman, impressed the judges with her dedication as the chapter Vice President of Newman FFA and her commitment to following in her grandfather’s footsteps by giving back to her community.
Gisselle Ramos, a member of the OHS cheer team, aims to finish college in cosmetics and become a makeup artist or kindergarten teacher. She wants to set an example for the younger girls in her family.
Ylexy Perez is involved in soccer, track, and FFA, and her future plans include graduating in cosmetology. She aspires to be Miss Newman to give back to the community and influence the younger generation.
Rhyan Marroquín, the Runner-Up, is active in student council, FFA, and volleyball. She plans to become an aesthetic nurse and advocate for the younger generation in her community.
