After a three year pause, the beloved Highlander Pageant made its grand return on March 14 in the MPR. The event was canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic, but the event was back better than ever with excitement, laughter, and a whole lot of talent.
The Highlander Pageant is a spirited competition where contestants senior students compete for the ultimate title of Mr. or Ms. Highlander. This year, our 10 contestants brought their glam to the stage: Jamison Gallo, Talan HernandezHamburger, Austin Maina, Luke Lacy, Sydney Crets, Devon Ware, Chase Brosamle, Alex Geronimo, Emily Montalvo, and Reese Barnar. The evening was hosted by the iconic duo Maiya Vallejo and Gaby Zavala.
Proceeds from the event were donated to charities which were personally chosen by each contestant, including Gigi’s Playhouse, the Samaritan Center, the Royal Drama Department, and Ventura County Animal Services. Altogether the pageant raised over $1,500.
The show kicked off with an energetic group dance number, followed by an introduction portion where contestants walked the stage in outfits that best represented their personalities ranging from cozy onesies to sports jerseys. The talent portion was a highlight of the night featuring everything from sock puppets, singing, rapping, to ribbon dancing, juggling, and magic tricks.
Next up was the formal wear segment where contestants dressed to impress in their finest attire. Then came the question and answer round, where they shared insights about their charity choices, talents, and motivations for joining the competition.
One of the most entertaining parts of the night was the “Minute to Win It” challenge, where contestants ran through the crowd with hats collecting donations in a chaos of fun and fundraising.
After a night filled with passion and personality, our judges Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Habroun, Mr. Hemphill, Ms. Gonzalez-Gamez, Mrs. Letus, Mrs. Marsh, and Master Sergeant Johnson, narrowed down the field to the top three: Jamison Gallo, Alex Geronimo, and Luke Lacy. After one last round of questions, our winners were announced.
Alex Geronimo took home the Fan Favorite award, Emily Montalvo earned the Stevie Highlander award which was voted on by fellow contestants, and the ultimate title of Mr. Highlander was awarded to none other than Luke Lacy.
With an amazing comeback, a night full of fun memories, and over $1,500 raised for charity, the 2025 Highlander Pageant was truly a success.
