Miss California pageant honors two

Two locals won accolades last weekend at the Miss California pageant, the lead-up to Miss America.

Kate Brewster, Miss Huntington Beach 2009, placed as one of the top 12 girls to compete in the Miss California pageant Saturday. She also won the preliminary evening gown competition June 25.

Brewster, 18, recently graduated from Huntington Beach High School, and is a singer and dancer. She hopes to focus on music ministry for a career.

Monica Stainer, a 15-year-old junior at Edison High School, is the new Miss California Outstanding Teen 2009. She also is the current reigning Miss City of Los Angeles Outstanding Teen.

The cheerleader and ballet dancer is a student body officer, and has a 4.4 grade point average. She also has been Miss Beach Cities.

Monica’s older sister, Ruth, was Miss Huntington Beach in 2004.

— Candice Baker