Kimberly Vernon, the current Miss Santa Clara County, has been named Miss California 2024 and will represent California at the Miss America pageant in early 2025.
Vernon emerged victorious among 44 contestants from across the state vying for the title. While the organizers have not officially disclosed the prize details for 2024, past winners have received substantial scholarships and other prizes.
For instance, Sabrina Lewis, the 2023 Miss California, received a $20,000 scholarship. The first runner-up received a $7,000 scholarship, with the other top five finalists receiving $5,000, $4,000, and $2,500 scholarships respectively.
Vernon hails from the San Francisco Bay Area and describes herself as an “artist, educator, and advocate” with a strong commitment to making a positive impact.
She graduated from California State University Fullerton with double majors in Theatre and Cinema Television Arts and a minor in American Studies.
A four-time local titleholder in the Miss America Opportunity program, Vernon emphasizes community service, volunteerism, women’s education, and empowerment.
She credits the program with transforming her life and leading to a career change; she now works as a Marketing and Operations Associate for Queenly, an online marketplace for formalwear.
Vernon aims to become the first Miss California to win the Miss America title since Debra Maffet in 1983.
