Name: Beyond the Crown: Miss California’s Real Journey
Uploaded: 2026-05-20T06:49:57.000Z
Description: In today’s episode, Kimberly Vernon, the reigning Miss California, shares her inspiring journey from high school color guard to the top of California’s most prestigious pageant stage.

Steve is an investigative reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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“Bay Area Innovators” tackles the compelling, life-changing, fearless, and compassionate stories from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, providing a platform for discussion and discovery. We bring to our program the legends, the innovators, and the hardworking people who are shaping the future of the Bay Area in a positive way by finding solutions and improving people’s lives.

Steve Ispas is an investigative journalist with The Epoch Times and the host of Epoch TV’s “Bay Area Innovators” program. Steve grew up in Eastern Europe, and lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 35 years. He worked in the tech industry for 15 years at LSI Logic and Rambus, and has been with The Epoch Times in various positions since 2003. His recent coverage includes an in-depth exclusive investigation of the secret Chinese biolab discovered in Reedley, Calif., in 2022.

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In today’s episode, Kimberly Vernon, the reigning Miss California, shares her inspiring journey from high school color guard to the top of California’s most prestigious pageant stage.

What began as a hesitant pageant entry at age 16 turned into a four-year pursuit shaped by growth, confidence, and perseverance. “I didn’t think I could win,” she recalls. “I just wanted to try something new.”

Kimberly opens up about the real work behind the crown—from mastering interviews and talent routines to building lasting friendships and advocating for meaningful causes.

She also discusses how pageantry led to an unexpected career path in marketing and how she now uses her platform to promote arts education in underserved communities. “Pageantry changed my life,” she says. “It helped me grow into who I am.”

Join us for a heartfelt conversation about ambition, identity, and the power of saying yes to opportunities that scare you.

<em>Views expressed in this video are opinions of the host and guests, and do not necessarily reflect the views of  NTD.</em>

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