Readers prefer Maricopa pageant winner

Of 288 total respondents in InMaricopa.com’s weekly poll, a majority of 272 said they prefer all the contestants in the City of Maricopa pageant to be from Maricopa.

Only 16 readers said they did not have that preference.

The Miss City of Maricopa pageant has had open up to contestants from the surrounding Valley for the past two years because of a lack of local, qualified contestants. 

Gilbert resident Jennifer Smestad, 19, was crowned Sept. 15.

Miss City of Maricopa 2012 was Andrea Malinski of Tempe.

The pageant, which is a franchise of the Miss America pageant, allows the winner the opportunity compete in the Miss Arizona pageant in June.

Click here for the latest Facebook updates on Miss City of Maricopa.