Miss Clovis felt right at home as she was crowned Miss California.
The loudest applause for Tiffany Stoker, a Brigham Young University student, came after she was announced the winner of the talent and scholarship pageant on Saturday night. Because Clovis is just a few miles from Fresno, more than 100 of Stoker's family and friends had crowded into Saroyan Theater to cheer for her.They didn't let her forget they were there.
"It's comforting to have so many fans here supporting me," Stoker said. "It's so nice to be on stage and to hear them yell loud for me. It was humbling to say the least."
Stoker, a senior broadcast communications major at BYU, cupped her hands over her mouth after she was named Miss California. She then thanked the judges and was crowned by last year's winner, Jennifer Hanson.
Stoker, 21, will represent California in the 75th Miss America Pageant. She also won a $10,000 scholarship and a new wardrobe.
For the first time in Miss California's 71-year history, the contestants went barefoot down the runway. Previous entrants had to balance on high heels in the swimsuit competition. Pageant organizers changed that this year to de-emphasize the beauty portion of the annual event.
Although she was surprised to win, Stoker said she was confident that she had done well in the talent portion of the contest. She performed a stirring rendition of "Think of Me" from "Phantom of the Opera."
"I felt very pleased with the things I had done in my performances, so I knew it was out of my control and that I wouldn't have any regrets no matter what happened," she said. "I just was excited to finally know the results."
After she won, six of Stoker's friends from high school crowded onto the stage and hugged and kissed her as they congratulated her.
"Ever since high school she's been groomed for this," said Richelle Heilbut, who went to Clovis West High School with Stoker. "She's the all-American girl."
And nobody was prouder than Barbara Barrington Jones, who has coached Stoker in several pageants since 1991. Jones said her prize pupil had everything going for her.
"She had the best figure, the best talent and the best interview," Jones said. "So what else is there?"
As for Miss America, Stoker already has an opinion about who should win the Sept. 16 beauty pageant in Atlantic City, N.J.
"California needs someone to represent them," she said. " They haven't had a winner in some time, so I'd like to be that person. It would be exciting and wonderful."