When La Kia (Sims) Pearson was crowned Miss La Verne in Feb. 2003, she knew she would be making history as the first African American to win the title.
“I was expecting to receive another envelope,” said La Verne Mayor Jon Blickenstaff before he re-announced Erin Zabarnick as the runner-up to a shocked crowd. Seconds before, he had announced the new Miss La Verne Sarah Davis as the runner-up.