July 7, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Miss California: LMU Junior Represents Santa Monica and Takes Coveted Crown

By Evelyn Taylor

 

Charismatic, confident, and glamorous, 20-year-old India Williams represents the state as Miss California USA 2017, as well as Miss Santa Monica 2017. Williams, an only child, was born and raised in Lafayette, California. Although she has devoted a great deal of time to pageantry, Williams is more than a pretty face beneath a sash. Now a junior at Loyola Marymount University (LMU), Williams is passionate about studying business and using her title as a platform for advocating her entrepreneurial beliefs.

At a young age, Williams was signed with modeling agency Stars Model Management in San Francisco and participated in various runway shows and campaigns, which inspired her transition to pageantry. Williams was captain of the varsity cheerleading squad at Acalanes High School in Lafayette, and described her high school experience as good preparation for LMU.

She began her journey in pageantry by reading online about the Miss California Teen USA pageant in 2014, and decided to enter. Although she did not place that year or the following year, Williams said she enjoyed the process of making friends and trying something new.

“I felt like it was going to be a good experience for me, so I went with it,” Williams told The Mirror. “It was definitely a tough road to finally win [Miss California USA], but it feels really rewarding.”

Williams then moved on to compete in the Miss Santa Monica pageant, working with director Kirsten Bradford, who is responsible for coaching the past four Miss California USA’s (including Williams) and runs a coaching service in Santa Monica.

During her competition phase in Santa Monica, Williams spent time walking by the beach and eating at local restaurants, particularly Del Frisco’s Grille (her favorite) on Ocean Avenue.

“They’re so supportive every time I go in there, they’re very sweet, and they’ll bring me a dessert or something for being Miss Santa Monica,” Williams said. “I was really trying to be a part of the community since that was the city that I was representing.”

Following her victory in Santa Monica, Williams struck gold at the Miss California USA pageant. She participated in a three-part competition, the first being an interview by a panel of judges (followed by swimsuit and evening gown competitions.) Williams said her skills lie in the interview component.

“I gave them insight into my personality and what I could bring to the table, so I think that was definitely my strongest part of the competition,” Williams said.

In addition to preparing for the approaching Miss USA pageant over the summer, Williams is nurturing her entrepreneurial interests at LMU as well as outside of school. She credits her parents, who own their own company, for passing along the “entrepreneurial bug.” In spring 2016, she volunteered with the Incubator School, a public school in Los Angeles that promotes teaching entrepreneurial skills to middle school students.

“Something I’m really passionate about is bringing entrepreneurship to a younger audience,” Williams said. “I really think it’s important to teach children that there’s a way to make a living for themselves and be self-sufficient and independent.”

 

SMS-MissCA11317B

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...