Miss San Diego Cities 2011: Kristen Paruginog

Kristen Paruginog, a San Diego-native, was recently crowned as Miss San Diego Cities 2011. As Miss San Diego Cities, Miss Paruginog will have the opportunity to represent the large Pilipino-American population in San Diego to the rest of California and to the rest of the nation at large.

There are many misconceptions about pageants and pageant contestants that people pick up from movies, television and other media. Pageant contestants are often portrayed as vain and self-centered, which are long-standing stereotypes that popular television shows dramatize to great effect. But, these young women are far from the one-dimensional caricatures that misrepresent them. Many of them are students with high academic and career aspirations. Pageants allow young women to develop public speaking skills and also offer scholarship opportunities to support the candidates' educational goals. In these ways, pageants provide different opportunities to help young women succeed.

The Miss San Diego Cities Pageant has given Paruginog many opportunities for personal growth. She has been able to develop skills in public speaking, which has helped her overcome her shyness, and has also been able to expand her professional networks through her participation in pageants. One of the most important opportunities that come with Paruginog’s title is the chance to promote service and volunteerism in local communities. Paruginog has actively supported various organizations and programs in San Diego and outreaches to the community to encourage youth involvement. Through her title, Paruginog will be able to continue her work of service and support many more organizations in their cause.