Five Questions with Cori Hayes

Joey Flores, News Editor

January 30, 2013

The Miss Downey pageant has many participants, one of which is junior Cori Hayes, who has juggled honors and AP classes with the pageant for three years, and this year she plans on running for Miss Icon.

Q1: How did you first get involved with these competitions?

A2: My first year getting involved with it [pageants] was my eigth grade year. My best friend Madison wanted to do it, but obviously she didn’t want to do it alone. You know how girls are; we have to go in groups, so she made me do it with her. I didn’t think I would like it, but I actually fell in love with the whole process.

Q2: What is your favorite part of competing?

A2: That’s a hard question because there’s actually a lot. My favorite part would probably be getting to know new people. Usually, I’m not very social but through the pageant program, I’ve become more personable, and I have a lot more friends now.

Q3: What exactly is the process for competition?

A3: In January, there are sign ups and you go to an orientation. After that, you have practices every Monday where they teach you how to do everything, so everyone has a fair chance to win. The actual day of the pageant, you do interviews in the morning, and then later that evening, you go in the Downey Theatre, and they have an opening number with everyone. They have introductions, they have a business wear, a sports wear, but it’s really like a fun wear where you can do anything with props. And then after that, it’s evening wear, and depending on how many people are there, they’ll pick a top ten or top fifteen. Then they’ll do onstage questions and then they’ll give all the awards and then they announce the winner.

Q4: Does it ever interfere with your schoolwork?

A4: It does to a certain extent, but getting into it you have to realize that it’s a lot of commitment and you have to organize your time well. I’ve learned over the years that I’ve been doing this how to make time for everything.

Q5: When you first started competing, did you win or lose?

A5: I competed for three years and I lost the first two years and I finally won a spot on the court the third year. It was a long process, but it was worth the wait. The first year, I wasn’t really expecting to win since it was my first year. The second year, I messed up throughout the night, so I had realized that I wasn’t going to get it, so I was at peace with it. The third year when I won, it was kind of a haze. They gave us a DVD of the night, and I just kind of watched it with a dumbstruck look on my face. I was just at a loss for words.

About the Contributors

Joey Flores, News Editor

Joey Flores is a 14-year-old sophomore at Downey High as well as a writer and News Editor for The Downey Legend. Flores chose to join the 2012-2013 staff because he wants to gain experience in journalism, since he aspires to work for Details or Rolling Stone magazine. He plans to attend the University of Oxford or NYU. “I have a minor obsession with the U.K.,” Flores said when asked why he wanted to attend the University of Oxford. He admitted that he will miss his friends and family when he’s away for college, although he won’t be missing the California weather. The News Editor always preferred English over any other subject. “When I was younger I always preferred English because I felt that I had the freedom when it came to creative writing,” Flores said. Along with being on the newspaper, he is also taking Honors English 10, which will help enhance his writing skills. Flores’ main goals are to fulfill everything that comes his way and to come up with interesting stories that will receive multiple views. The staff member enjoys listening to indie and alternative rock. He is a big fan of the 80s band, The Smiths. Flores loves doing community service and is a member of the Key Club. The News Editor enjoys helping others and wants to help “beautify the community.” Flores has volunteered at recovery centers, like Rancho Los Amigos. He participated in a carnival for the disabled patients at the RLARC. “It was very eye-opening because you realize that they are incapable of doing much, but they never give up,” he said. Although Flores has a lot on his plate- being The Downey Legend’s News Editor, volunteering at rehabilitation centers, and succeeding in AP European History and Honors English 10- he will manage to stay on top of everything and make his sophomore year a memorable one.

Alexandra Menendez, Photographer

Returner Alexandra Menendez took up photography for The Downey Legend her junior year. Since the purchase of her first camera as a mere 6^th grader, photography has been a point of interest for the 17 year old; the school newspaper is just one on a long list of creative outlets she uses to express her photography skills. “I like having the ability to capture a memory before it’s gone forever.” Menendez says. Outside of campus, she refines her skills through photo-shoots with her friends and sister along the railroad tracks and otherwise simple backdrops. She plans on enrolling at San Francisco State and studying to be a professional photographer, but if all else fails, she aspires to at least be a qualified teacher. Currently, she is attending the ROP class Principles in Education to guide her into being the ideal photography instructor she aims to be. The soft-spoken Menendez lives her life to the fullest of its potential each and every day. She is a proud film enthusiast, lover of Asian cuisine, and self-proclaimed introvert – though she claims to enjoy wasting away the weekends with her friends. Nonetheless, rather than having a traditional quinceñera with the spotlight on her, Menendez chose to travel Europe alone. “I’ve always wanted to go, just to see new places I’d never seen before.” Menendez says. “I wanted something new. She still longs to travel the rest of the world – all the while, documenting her trips through a camera lens. A small girl, Menendez has big dreams ahead of herself.