36 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY AUGUST 15-21, 2024 www.montereycountynow.com FACE TO FACE Miss Monterey County may not be the highest-profile crown. But it’s an official part of the Miss America program and it carries responsibility. The title is not just about beauty. Genevieve Armendariz, the current Miss Monterey County, is from Salinas, born to a multicultural family, her mother Caucasian and Japanese and her father Mexican. She grew up eating both tamales and sushi, she jokes. The family overcame many hardships, including homelessness and poverty, that molded Armendariz into what she is now and made her realize clearly that society doesn’t treat everyone the same. This awareness of socioeconomic issues, gender and race, gave her motivation. She ended up graduating from high school early and has started her university studies in astrophysics at Hartnell College. So while a pageant may include clothes and cosmetics, Armendariz is also striving to be an inspiration to young women in Monterey County. Weekly: Astrophysics? Armendariz: It’s a combination of spiritual and personal, but also scientific. Not only that, I love science, facts and I love learning about the best ways to live your life. I’ve always been interested in stars. Sometimes at night, I would go to our backyard and look at the stars. It’s a unique feeling; there’s this huge world out there, different from the small world of Salinas. I love using my mind; I love analytical things and I would like to apply my mind to contribute to society. Will that be your professional path? I’m creating my own path. I plan to finish my degree in astrophysics, but I’m also in the Women’s Campaign School, learning how to run for office. In the next few years, I would like to run for mayor or another elected office in our community. I want to represent women. I’m not interested in becoming a career politician. I’m more interested in something local and making change in our community. How did you hear about Miss Monterey County? I grew up knowing about the Miss America system and the organization. It’s a platform for young women to not only grow themselves, but also our communities, pursuing issues we care about. And how does it fit into your big plan? As I always say, I’m a woman on the mission. I want to change the world. I grew up with limited opportunities and I know that there are still people out there who need resources and empowerment. I believe that everybody deserves an opportunity to pursue what they want in life. Miss America gives me the platform to speak about all those issues. I marry that with my nonprofit work. I’m the founder of the Limitless Mentorship Program and Scholarship Fund, which started with scholarships in 2021, but there were many events in the years before. Let’s talk about your relationship to femininity. No woman escapes worrying about beauty in some way; there is pressure to think that that’s what value stems from. But I don’t use filters in my photos and I do not wear fake eyelashes. I keep my makeup natural and when I talk to young women, I tell them that social media beauty is fake. No one is posting a true, messy version of themselves. Beauty doesn’t define you, not as a woman and not as a person. Tell us more about the scholarships. They are directed to low-income girls and young women who are just about to graduate high school or just started college and study in male-dominated industries, including the automotive industry. My grandma was an auto mechanic in Salinas. I do a lot of fundraising. I partner with the local cars And coffee groups. During Women’s History Month we raised almost $2,000. Every recipient gets $1,000 to start with, a laptop and connection to other agencies. What’s your take on the current situation of women in politics? When the first female president gets elected, I want all women to feel she is the one who will lead us to greatness. Since you study space, I have to ask: Do you think there are aliens out there? I’m pretty sure some form of life exists in the universe. Maybe not the creatures we imagined, maybe not the intelligent life. But I think they are out there. Limitless Scholarship Fund is fundraising 8-10am Saturday, Aug. 17 in Chili’s parking lot, 1349 Canyon Del Rey Blvd., Seaside; 1-4pm Sunday, Aug. 18 at Monterey Touring Vehicles, 2228 Del Monte Ave., Monterey. cfmco. org/cfmco_fund_list/the-limitless-scholarship-fund. Here She Is Meet the current Miss Monterey County, who is also an aspiring future local politician. By Agata Pop˛eda Miss Monterey County is Genevieve Armendariz, who is using her title for more than beauty—she is leveraging it as a platform to empower other young women, providing them with scholarships. COURTESY OF GENEVIEVE ARMENDARIZ Gromit Want to meet Gromit? Please fill out our online adoption questionnaire. Traits to Love: approx. 10 years old - 16 pounds - male - Pomeranian mix Gromit is the cutest ball of fluff! This guy is good with other dogs and really loves his people. He would enjoy a sniffari in the yard or a stroll around the block and then would be happy to cozy up in a bed for a snooze. He will have such an adorable demeanor when he gets comfortable with his new family, and will surely be a favorite furever friend! Ad sponsored by Kalman Weinfeld in honor of his late father who taught him the value of volunteering. If you’d like sponsor our next ad, please give us a call. 831-718-9122 | www.PeaceOfMindDogRescue.org P.O. Box 51554, Pacific Grove, CA 93950 HELP ME, PLEASE My name is Mabel. I’m 11 and no one wants me. I’ve been in a foster home for weeks and weeks and not one person has asked to see me. No one. I try to pretend I don’t care; I play with wand toys and I purr and purr in my foster’s lap, but I want a home of my own with no other pets, just me and my own human. Do you know what it’s like to not be popular, not be picked? I do. Pick Mabel and make her dreams come true. See her at www.gocatrescue.org and fill out an adoption application to give her a Second Chance at a New Beginning! If you would like to sponsor our next ad, please call us at 831-200-9700 or email goldenoldiescats@gmail.com. 831.200.9700 www.gocatrescue.org
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