Miss Fontana encourages fellow Panthers to enter pageant

When Genesis Ruiz lost her uncle to violence in Mexico in 2018, her family faced the pain of the murder investigation going cold. She turned that pain into a chance to help others by becoming a criminal justice major at Chaffey College.

To support her journey toward obtaining a police badge, Ruiz pursued something else that symbolizes pride and achievement – a Miss Fontana crown.

“Being a part of an organization that has had a great impact on my life, as well as the girls around me, has been more than I could have expected,” she said.

The Miss Fontana Scholarship Pageant opened up its current registration for the 2025 competition this month. The pageant itself will take place June 14. Ruiz, who won the title of 2024 Miss Fontana in June, wants to see more Panthers follow in her footsteps.

“I hope that the young women of Chaffey College join the pageant and claim a title for themselves, invest in themselves and grow in themselves,” she said.

The Miss Fontana organization awarded $10,000 in scholarships divided between 12 winners in the last pageant at Fontana High School. Past winners have gone on to successful careers in medicine, law enforcement and government careers, among other areas. The competition includes resume creation, interview skills, posture, communication skills and more.

“All contestants that have come through our program have shown immense commitment and always leave the pageant with a sense of accomplishment,” said Cesilee Arana, executive director of the Miss Fontana Scholarship Pageant.

Since winning the crown, Ruiz has made appearances at ribbon-cuttings for new businesses, the Fontana Christmas Parade and Festival of Winter. She and fellow pageant winners will also appear at events such as the Fontana Days 5K Run this summer.

Ruiz hopes to graduate from Chaffey in December and transfer to a Cal State University campus to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She finds inspiration in listening to true crime podcasts by Kendall Rae, who features unsolved cases on her show.

“Knowing the feeling of having an unsolved case in my family, I felt motivated and want to help others receive justice and closure of their unsolved cases,” she said.

Ruiz said the scholarship she has received, along with her experiences as Miss Fontana, will help her reach her goal of becoming a homicide detective.

“The Miss Fontana organization has encouraged many girls to move forward in their lives and I want others to have the opportunity to be encouraged by the same organization that has encouraged me,” she said.