It wasn’t just her shiny black hair, exotic brown eyes, or permanent smile that won Michelle Eslava Crisostomo the title of Miss Sacramento County. A combination of wit, intellect and passion is really what makes this belle stand out in a crowd.

Crisostomo, a Sacramento State student, won the title April 31 at Luther Burbank High School. Her victory puts her in the running for the Miss California pageant, an event that will take place June 30 in Fresno. The winner advances to the Miss America pageant.Crisostomo is prepared for the challenge.

“I will compete against 52 very sharp and bright young ladies,” Crisostomo said. “Since I’m one of the 52, I have to be self-assured because the judges ‘dare you to be you.’ Believe me, they will know if you are faking it.”

The status of Miss Sacramento County gives Sac State notoriety during Crisostomo’s quest to be Miss America. The campus is a major part of he success.

“I love this school and its teaching staff,” she said. “It’s a great feeling to attend Sac State and I think I do us justice as a representative.”

Crisostomo wasn’t crowned for her beauty. Miss Sacramento County is the product of a scholarship program that rewards young women who play an active role in their community and show motivation towards achieving their goals.

“Beauty fits in as far as scoring goes, but the judges are also questioning, ‘Is she articulate? Is she intelligent?'” Crisostomo said. “They are looking for the best representative, not the prettiest.”

Crisostomo is a 19-year-old Sac State junior studying biological science and trying to pave her way to a dental school for a career as an orthodontist or pediatric dentist.Crisostomo’s experience of having horrible teeth growing up led to an interest in the dental industry.

“People care about their teeth,” Crisostomo said. “Dentistry helps build self-confidence.”Crisostomo is currently pursuing her dental dreams through a program she started titled “Hygiene for Health.” The program is aimed towards preventative health care by educating kindergartners about the importance of hygiene, brushing, flossing, eating healthy and exercising. Crisostomo also spends time working as an assistant in a dental office.

“My job reaffirms why I want to go into dental. I like the work that I do, “Crisostomo said. “I’m getting a head start on dental school now by learning the names of instruments and learning dental procedures.”

Tae kwon do is a passion in Crisostomo’s life that she credits building her confidence level, leadership skills, focus and coordination. She is using her nine years of experience and third degree black belt to develop a program titled “Self Defense Through Character Development.” Her program will teach jr. high and high school age students to diffuse potentially violent situations through effective communication, problem solving and self-control.

“There are alternatives to violence and you have to give kids those tools,” Crisostomo said.

Crisostomo’s goals and interest in her community are part of what will give her a good shot at her next pageant, Miss California, and then perhaps Miss America.

“Michelle is a good representative because she is so driven. She’s mapped out her life and she has a plan,” said April Drum, executive director of the Miss Sacramento County Scholarship Program. “She is just so ambitious.”

Pageantry is just something that Crisostomo fell into one day when her sister brought home a flyer for a Filipino pageant when she was 16.

“I was always a tomboy growing up??jumping off fences and breaking my ankle. I was so uncoordinated,” Crisostomo said. “And then all of a sudden pageantry.”

Even pageantry was something that she had to work on. Judges look for individuals who are intelligent, school oriented, care about their community, can conduct themselves well and are physically fit. For Crisostomo, the walk has been one of the more difficult tasks in pageant life.

“You wouldn’t think that there was a science to walking elegantly, or is something that you would have to practice,” Crisostomo said. “That is something that I still have to work on before Miss California in June.”

Growing up with Filipino values, Crisostomo says that a lot of emphasis was placed on school, discipline and family.

“Everything I’ve done, from pageantry, tae kwon do, or just doing good in school, my family has been there encouraging me or helping me to reach my goals,” said Crisostomo. “It is really nice to know that your dreams aren’t just your own, they’re everyone else’s who cares about you.”