Two Students Compete for Miss California USA

San Diego State is home to two contestants in the 2011 Miss California USA Pageant, which will be held later this month in Palm Springs.

Elise Czelusniak, a junior majoring in psychology, and Nina Babaie, a senior also majoring in psychology, are two local Aztecs representing different parts of San Diego. Czelusniak is currently Miss San Diego County and Babaie is currently Miss Del Mar. Both are excited to have the opportunity to showcase different philanthropies and represent their state.

Meet Miss San Diego County

Czelusniak, a pre-med student, became a first-time beauty contestant earlier this year when she tried out and won the Miss San Diego County California USA title.

“I had heard about the opportunities offered from the pageant from a friend, so I thought it could be a great outlet to help with my education and my desire to give back,” she said. “I have always been the type to be involved, and don’t feel fulfilled unless I am doing something worthwhile. Being in a pageant had never really crossed my mind before.”

Czelusniak, who hopes to become a pediatrician, is dedicating her campaign for Miss California USA to two worthwhile charities: the childhood obesity initiative and breast cancer research.

“I have a strong interest in children and health. I have also worked with a charity called Freshstart Surgical Gifts, which provides plastic surgery to children with physical defects or victims of abuse or trauma. Also, one of my personal role models was my grandfather, who was an amazing doctor. He diagnosed one of the first cases of AIDS in the nation and was a member of Doctors Without Borders. It has always been my goal to continue his work.”

Czelusniak explained why breast cancer is an important cause to her.

“Personally, breast cancer is a big issue to me because I lost one of my grandmothers earlier this year to that disease, and it runs in our family,” she said. “I’ve donated many proceeds to helping eliminate breast cancer.”

“With the special opportunity I have, I realize I am a role model, so I want to emphasize community service to other young people,” she said. “I also want to let other girls know that these pageants have evolved from ‘beauty contests’ to an avenue to help young women develop into citizens who can reach their full potential.”

Meet Miss Del Mar

Babaie will graduate from SDSU next May, and plans to attend law school. She holds the title of Miss Del Mar, and is also competing in the pageant. Babaie said the opportunity to be a role model to other young women was a key reason she decided to compete in the pageant. Babaie is also a first-time pageant contestant at the Miss Del Mar competition.

“I'm the typical tomboy who played basketball and was MVP and all-tournament in high school,” she said. “I’m now a jock turned into a beauty queen.”

Babaie has a long history of community service, from serving the homeless, building shelters for the poor in Mexico, serving the needy in Jamaica, hosting youth camps, mentoring foster kids and coaching youth basketball.

The cause she's campaigning for the pageant is a personal one.

“I'm actually on the board of starting a new mentorship program called ‘Destiny in Me’,” she said.

“I believe it is imperative for everybody to reach out to the community. My heart and passion is serving young people. They are the next generation and we all need to build them up and empower them. Children just want somebody they can look up to, who can guide them, teach them and they can relate to. And who else would be better than people who are few years older and been through the things they've been through?”

As for the pageant, Babaie thinks people should know that it's more than beauty contest.

“Since Miss California aims at finding a woman who is well-rounded, a lot of preparation is required. This demands eating healthy and exercising every day, writing a business proposal, making a brand of yourself, staying informed on social and political issues that face our society, and reaching out to the community through volunteer work.

“This is challenging, because on top of everything else, I coach high school girls basketball, mentor youth, attend SDSU and I’m preparing for the LSAT. I believe in the Miss California USA pageant and what it stands for. And I'm making a difference.”

About the pageant

Miss California USA contestants must be at least 18 and under 27 years of age on Feb. 1, 2011. The winner of the Miss California USA pageant will represent the state of California at the national Miss USA pageant.

From there, Miss USA will represent the nation at the Miss Universe pageant. For more information on the Miss California USA pageant, visit misscaliforniausa.com.