As Executive Director of the Miss Orange pageant, Connie Benson will crown her 20th Miss Orange in 2025. The entirely volunteer-run program’s mission is to award scholarships to women ages 17 to 24.
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Connie Benson
Miss Orange Pageant Organizer
Connie Benson, Executive Director of the Miss Orange Pageant, is marking her 20th anniversary in the role. Since 2003, Benson has overseen every aspect of the pageant as a volunteer. She emphasizes the Miss Orange Pageant is more than a competition.
“The young ladies vie for a $5,000 scholarship and serve as an ambassador to the city,” she says.
Benson’s journey with pageantry began in the hometown of the Miss Oregon Pageant, where she was introduced to the world of pageants by her mother, who helped as a seamstress.
“I would watch as a little girl,” Benson recalls. “The girls were all so well-spoken, knew how to walk and talk and had honed their talents. The experience had a huge impact on me.”
Benson moved to California to pursue a double major in dance and legal studies at Chapman University and went on to law school in San Diego. A chance encounter at a baby shower led her back to Orange (where she is a litigator), and to taking over the Miss Orange Pageant with a committee of dedicated volunteers.
“We spend the time preparing for the pageant helping girls become their best selves,” she says. “From interview skills to stage presentation, participants gain invaluable experience.”
The pageant has evolved over the years, reflecting changing times and needs.
“We’ve normalized talking about mental wellness,” Benson notes. “The emphasis on authenticity is crucial. There’s no such thing as a ‘pageant girl.’ Every participant is unique and brings her own story.”
Rachel Lohman competed in 2008 and won the crown in 2009. She went on to help with the pageant for several years after that.
“I remember feeling like I had someone who believed in me,” recalls Lohman of her competition years. “When you are still trying to figure out who you are and what you want in life, having someone in that mentor type role is so key, and Connie has been that for me.”
As Executive Director, Benson’s role extends beyond organizing the annual pageant. She fosters relationships within the community and chaperones Miss Orange to all engagements. For those young ladies considering participating in the pageant, Benson is persuasive.
“In 20 years, I’ve never had a girl tell me she wished she hadn’t participated,” she says. “The Miss Orange Pageant offers a transformative experience that leaves a lasting impact.”
“I would attribute so much of my preparation for the real world to serving as Miss City of Orange,” says Lohman. “Connie becomes a cheerleader for all the girls who compete. She sees potential that we haven’t yet discovered in ourselves.”
The 2025 Pageant will take place January 18 at Chapman’s Memorial Hall, where the 88th Miss Orange will be crowned.
