One queen and two princesses were crowned at the Miss Cerritos 2011 contest held at the Center for Performing Arts on Tuesday night.

Stephanie Peterson, currently majoring in Speech and Language Therapy at Cypress College, was crowned queen, the highest honor of the contest.

Peterson said she felt “ecstatic,” after receiving her title of queen Miss Cerritos 2011.

“I am so honored to have the opportunity to represent the city,” she said.

To Petersen, this is an opportunity to promote Cerritos as a representative of the city’s Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“[Cerritos is] a city that [supports] culture, diversity, education, and community, parks and recreation. [Cerritos] has so much to offer, and I want to show

everyone what it has.”

Peterson and 10 other contestants were judged by their performances in four categories: personal interview, professional appearance, networking/social skills and poise/presentation skills.

 Michelle Yoo, attending Cypress College, majoring in Business, and Lisa Lifton, currently employed by the Cerritos Sheraton Hotel as its Sales and Catering Coordinator were crowned 1st and 2nd princesses.

Yoo, who has interned for the Regional Chamber of Commerce was not even considering competing in the contest.

“This is my first year, I wasn’t even thinking about doing it until Jill and Catherine of the Chamber kind of talked me into it,” Yoo said.

After being crowned first princess, Yoo said, “I feel really good, I am really excited about next year.” Her goal for the next year is to stay involved, and keep getting involved in community events.

Lifton, crowned second princess stated, “I am so excited right now, I know this is going to be a great opportunity for me.”

Her goal is to be professional and network as much as possible, “That is what this is all about, networking, [building] contacts and relationships,” Lifton said.

The City of Cerritos, Exotic Tan, and the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce were premier sponsors of the Miss Cerritos event, which included catered food and an opportunity to socialize with many of Cerritos’ political and business leaders.

The contest, according to Catherine Gaughen, executive director for Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce, said it used to be a “full blown beauty

pageant,” about 30 years ago.

“I came on board with the Chamber in 2002 and we changed it to a Scholarship Contest and a professional development opportunity for women – and we eliminated the pageant items (such as bathing suit, talent, evening gown, etc),” Gaughen said.

The event was also part semi-formal dinner, and part networking opportunity that allowed attendees to socialize with community, local political, and local business leaders.

One of the primary sponsors and a local business owner, Katherine Secor, recently joined the Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce.

She said, “This would be a great event due to the demographics, which are young women that are goal oriented.”

Secor also said that the contest even though is technically not about beauty, it showed the women’s ability to balance appearance and network effectively in a professional environment.

The recently-elected mayor of Cerritos, Carol Chen also attended the event.

Chen said she was there for a number of reasons.

“I am a Chamber member, so I support the Chamber in that manner, “she said.

“I am also there as mayor of Cerritos to congratulate the winners and support the event,” Chen added.

She also added that the most important thing that a young woman can gain from competing in an event like Miss Cerritos is, “to be involved, to be seen, and to be connected [to a cause],”

“That kind of experience, and exposure will teach them to lead rather than to follow,” Chen said, “[That experience] will stay with you forever.”