by Shelley Bennett
I know that I’m not alone in missing the local newspaper. I looked forward to finding it out in the yard and reading the headlines before I went to work in the morning. There was always something interesting in the Police Beat or Public Record. I especially loved the special inserts that would appear before Football Season, Christmas, and the annual Lassen County Fair.
The Fair Guide was the place where you’d find all the info about special performances, themed-days, and an hour-by-hour schedule of what was happening on the grounds. It also contained a greeting from the Fair Manager, Miss Lassen’s good-bye to the community, and a preview of the pageant contestants.
Everyone looked forward to seeing who was in the running, so today I will introduce to the eleven young women vying for the title of Miss Lassen County 2025.
“Girls Rock” is the theme for this year’s pageant, and for their professional photo shoot they were encouraged to choose an iconic female singer or musician and “channel” their persona in an outfit.
Gabriella Perez
Parents: Leslie and Antonio Perez
Sponsors: The Mark and The Gun Works
Musical Icon Inspiration: Stevie Nicks; she is an inspiration because of the uniqueness she exudes, along with the presence she embodies on stage.
Fun Fact: I firmly believe no outfit is complete without the addition of fun socks.
Emrie Singh
Parents: Janae Holmes and Tyler Singh
Sponsors: Lassen Lawn and Landscaping and Grocery Outlet
Musical Icon Inspiration: Mariah Carey; I admire her ability to overcome challenges and enjoy her music.
Fun Fact: My favorite music is from the 90s and early 2000s!
Dalila Heard
Parents: Mandy and Shaun Heard
Sponsors: Susanville Real Estate and Haven Studio Salon
Musical Icon Inspiration: Stevie Nicks; she represents strength, creativity, and individuality. She’s a woman who broke barriers in a male-dominated industry and stayed true to herself – which is exactly what “Girls Rock” is all about.
Fun Fact: I am a fourth generation Lassen County resident from both my mother and father’s sides of the family.
Julia Bruce
Parents: Ida and Robert Bruce
Sponsors: Kirack Construction and Smith Properties
Musical Icon Inspiration: Reba McIntire; she embodies our theme, “Girls Rock,” through her pioneering spirit and enduring career. She broke barriers in the male-dominated 1970s country music scene, paving the way for female artists. Her music consistently celebrates female strength, resilience, grit, perseverance, and ambition.
Fun Fact: I run an Instagram account called One Farmer at a Time that raises awareness for the mental health of farmers and ranchers.
Londyn Smith
Parents: Jennifer and Scott Smith
Sponsors: Wheels West and Town & Country Realty
Musical Icon Inspiration: Lauren Daigle; we share a fundamental belief in Christ, so I find her to be relatable, and I love to worship with her music. I also enjoy her colorful sense of style.
Fun Fact: I have completed over a dozen polar bear plunges throughout my life, despite preferring to be hot rather than cold.
Hailey Dawson
Parents: Abby Dawson and Ruben Molina
Sponsors: Exterior Renovations and Susan River Firefighters Association
Musical Icon Inspiration: Carrie Underwood; I grew up listening to her music my whole life, there isn’t a song I don’t know at least a part to. She is what I think of when I think of a powerful woman. She is my biggest role model.
Fun Fact: I was Little Miss Lassen County Princess in 2016, along with Kaylee Micone.
Kinley Somerville
Parents: Fred and Elaine Somerville
Sponsors: Comfort Inn and Suites, High Sierra Fire
Musical Icon Inspiration: Adele; she is an empowering female artist who embraces her authentic self, defies industry norms, and promotes body positivity. Her music shows themes of love, heartbreak, and resilience, inspiring women to embrace their emotions and find strength in vulnerability.
Fun Fact: I have two older siblings whose names also start with the letter K.
Lydia Camp
Parents: Scott and Lucinda Camp
Sponsors: Mile High Mill and The Vegas Family
Musical Icon Inspiration: Taylor Swift; she has a genuine relationship with her fans and has stayed true to herself through her long, successful career which I find incredibly inspiring.
Fun Fact: I have volunteered in the live Nativity every year since it started. From bringing my cows to dancing and singing in the choir, every year I have participated has been an amazing experience and brought me closer to Christ.
Lily Fox
Parents: Lusanne Fox
Sponsors: The Blue Ox and Margie’s Book Nook
Musical Icon Inspiration: Megan Moroney; she inspires so many young girls to be confident and just believe in themselves while also teaching the about how feelings are ok.
Fun Fact: I love to read and last year I read 100 books.
Kaylee Micone
Parents: Heather and Jeremy Micone
Sponsors: Guess Plumbing and Jodi Henry, realtor
Music Inspiration: Megan Moroney; I believe she has brought back country music to the youth. Young people are often misjudged by the music we listen to and as a young artist, Megan represents us in a hearty, wholesome way.
Fun Fact: I have been dancing since I was three years old and competitively dancing since I was 6.
Brianna Williams
Parents: Becky and Keith Williams
Sponsors: Singleton and Aumun CPA and Sierra Desert Properties
Music Inspiration: Dolly Parton; she is a country music icon and with her charitable organization The Dollywood Foundation has worked to improve graduation rates in her home town and gifts free, age-approptiate books to children from birth to age five.
Fun Fact: My initials are BMW because my 8-year old brother helped come up with my name. His favorite car was a BMW.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
