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By Ramona Frances

Part 2 of 2 pageant profiles

A Madera woman's desire to find a scholarship for law school has led her to a contest she never expected to participate in.

"I applied for a scholarship without knowing I had entered a contest," said Luisa Marquez, 21, of Madera. "I want to go to law school. The application said $200,000 will be given away and law school is very expensive."

After Marquez applied for the scholarship online, she was called by recruiter Erik John Desando, a Miss California USA representative, before moving to the next level of competition in the beauty pageant.

Desando represents K2 Productions, a company that owns the Miss California USA franchise and oversees the pageant. The contest gained widespread attention after last year's Miss California USA, Carrie Prejean of San Diego, declared her opposition to same-sex marriage during the Miss USA 2009 pageant. Prejean was later dethroned and replaced for breach of contract.

Note: The above article has been shortened from its published form in The Madera Tribune newspaper. For information about an online subscription, view http://maderatribuneredline.com/online-subscriptions/

Ramona Frances Ramona Frances is a staff columnist, writer and photographer for the Madera Tribune. You may contact Ramona at 674.8134 ext. 222 or by e-mail ramona (at) maderatribune.net The Madera Tribune online subscription To subscribe or log on, CLICK HERE. For more information first, CLICK HERE.