Beyond the crown: meet the first-ever Miss Lost Hills

When Melissa Juarez first enrolled as a student at Wonderful College Prep Academy (WCPA) in Lost Hills, she never imagined the journey that would take her from a timid middle schooler to the first-ever Miss Lost Hills.

The youngest of three siblings, two of whom are former Wonderful Education Scholars, Melissa initially saw herself as the introverted sibling. However, her perspective began to change when her older sister Maribel launched the first Lost Hills Youth Club, where Melissa connected with other like-minded youth committed to making a difference in their community.

As a result, she gradually took on new roles at WCPA and in the community, including:

·     Class representative, where she advocated for students’ needs,

·     Yearbook editor, where she captures student stories,

·     Statistics manager for volleyball and soccer teams, where she assists with sports programming,

·     And volunteer at Lost Hills Park, where she engages with community members through park programs.

She enrolled in Wonderful Education’s Career Pathways, a dual-enrollment program where students can earn college credits while in high school – for free– and is currently working toward an associate degree in business administration.

Melissa left home for the first time to participate in summer enrichment programs at college campuses such as Stanford and UCLA. This past summer, she attended the Resnick Aspen Youth Action Forum, where she engaged with a diverse group of global youth leaders to learn about how to find light in times of discord.

Fresh off the forum, Melissa took action when she saw a flyer calling for submissions for the first-ever Miss Lost Hills at the 2024 Miss Kern County Pageant. After numerous calls and time spent on the application process, Melissa was thrilled to learn she would be the first person to represent Miss Lost Hills.

Since her crowning, Melissa’s schedule has been filled with local events that give back and celebrate the Lost Hills and surrounding communities, including backpack giveaways, reading to elementary school children, attending leadership conferences, and more.

She looks back in gratitude to her family, WCPA, and Wonderful Education for the resources and guidance she received in overcoming her introverted nature. Today, Melissa remains optimistic for the future of Lost Hills.

“Lost Hills is growing, and we can continue to expand it by coming together,” Melissa said.  “As Miss Lost Hills, I want to promote community involvement among Lost Hills youth to bring even more positive change.”