Redding woman to compete in Miss California USA pageant in December

Photos by Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Redding native Monica Fisher walks along the Sundial Bridge on Aug. 18 with her brother Aaron. Monica Fisher and her brother were spending time together before she moved to Chico to begin her second semester at Chico State University. She will represent Redding in the upcoming 2017 Miss California USA pageant.

Posted: Yesterday 7:15 p.m.

2 Comments

SHARE    

Monica Fisher (center) and her grandmother, Lydia Reed (right), cut strawberries during the Walmart Camp for Life on Aug. 10. Fisher and her grandmother were volunteers at the camp held at Whiskeytown's N.E.E.D Camp. Fisher will represent Redding in the Miss California USA competition in December.

Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight Monica Fisher practices dance routines Aug. 18 at Sun Oaks Tennis & Fitness in Redding. Fisher has been dancing since she was a young girl and plans to try out for the Chico State dance team. "Growing up dancing, it was always my sport. It gave me a way to express what I was feeling," Fisher said. "I always stuck with it. It has always been there in my life."

By Amber Sandhu of the Redding Record Searchlight

Redding's Monica Fisher didn't grow up a pageant girl, so when she filled out an application to compete for the Miss California USA pageant, she knew it was a long shot.

But shortly after applying, the 20-year-old was called in for an interview, and selected.

"I have to say, it's really great to represent my hometown," Fisher said about being selected.

Although she didn't grow up competing in pageants, she's kept herself busy by immersing herself in arts and volunteer work in the city. She was part of the Rotary group Interact, and volunteered for causes such as Toys for Tots and Stuff the Bus.

Having grown up dancing since she was a 3, with training in ballroom, jazz, tap, hip-hop and ballet, she's most proud of her involvement in Dancing with the Stars - Shasta County Style, a benefit dance concert that raises money for One SAFE Place, a local domestic violence shelter. Fisher participated in the event as a professional dancer for five years, and came back last year as a dance director.

But now her passion takes her to California State University in Chico, where she's majoring in mechatronic engineering.

"Engineering is not a traditional career," she said. "It's a lot of studying."

Her major combines mechanical and electrical engineering, and she hopes to use her education someday to work at the Ferrari Factory in Marenello, Italy.

But with her engineering major, she's added a minor in communication studies. She knows it's an odd combination, but there's one thing she wants people to know about her — engineers can communicate.

As the competition draws closer and Fisher prepares her walk and speech, she's learning more about who she is. "I'm learning more about myself, and what makes me confident, unique, and what I want out of life," she said.

This year, the Miss California USA pageant will take place in Long Beach from December 2 to 4 and the winner of the title goes on to represent Miss USA, and eventually Miss Universe for 2017.

And it's an option Fisher is open to. "If I was given the opportunity, it would be a dream come true," she said.

http://www.redding.com/news/local/redding-woman-to-compete-in-miss-california-usa-pageant-in-december-3ac54f4a-6ca5-1ea6-e053-0100007f-391467871.html