Interview with Sabrina Lewis, Miss California USA 2021

October 28, 2021

By Lucas Sigarini

<b>Lucas: It looks beautiful! So how and why did you start doing pageants? </b>

Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUTSIUIrM8S/

S: It’s a funny story, I didn’t really grow up doing pageants, I didn’t do any of the Toddlers & Tiaras things. It was in 9th grade so I started in high school. I was doing very well in school, I was a good role model, I did sports, I did volleyball and I was on the equestrian team in high school and someone told me I would be a good role model for young girls and young boys and I should get into pageants. So, she referred me to her pageant coach and I started doing Teen USA pageants in Georgia and I’ve been doing them ever since. I guess I’m hooked!

L: So you started in the USA system? What do you think is the biggest difference from the first pageant you competed in to now going to Miss USA?

S: Definitely practice makes perfect! Sometimes when I was younger I should just show up like “Okay, I’m here, I’m ready to have a good time!” I think now that I’m Miss California USA it helps to have a good team around you. I have a wonderful personal trainer that’s helping me get physically fit and we have wardrobe sponsors and I’m getting my gown together. I got my gown from Henri’s Cloud 9. We have a great team together and I think that’s what is really making the difference here. You practice, you get more comfortable and confident doing what you love so hopefully I’m bringing the best version of myself to Miss USA.

L: Amen! How was it winning Miss California USA because you competed in other state pageants before competing in California, so how was it finally realizing that you’re going to Miss USA?

S: When I was competing as a teen the judges loved giving me 3rd runner up. I don’t know why, but they’d be like “You’re so great! 3rd runner up!” It felt like every pageant I did I got 3rd runner up. So, when they didn’t call my name as 3rd runner up I was like “wow, I might really win this thing.” If you look back and see the photos I’m standing like a statue. I was super still because I was in shock I could not believe that I won the title but I’m so grateful.

L: Can you please tell us about your platform and how you’ll use it to help other people?

S: Sure! My platform is equine therapy. If you don’t know what that is, it’s horseback riding! It’s a fancy term for horseback riding for children who are disabled and veterans. So, my father is an Army veteran and that’s why. I also have a lot of family members, I come from a big military family and equine therapy helps with PTSD. I’ve worked with a lot of equine therapeutic programs back in Georgia growing up. I worked with a specific one, Coral, and I worked with that one for ten years since I was in middle school.

When I moved to college and went to UC Berkeley I worked with another equine therapeutic program in Oakland. Just bringing kids to horses is really my passion. I love horses and I want to share the joy and the happiness that I get when I ride. To see those kids’ faces when they’re around horses, it’s such a blessing. For some of them with their disabilities, it’s the only time of day that they get out of their wheelchair and I’m blessed to be a part of that experience with them.

Sabrina Lewis working on her equine therapy platform

Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CVeC3sfvMV5/

L: I’m from a small town in Brazil and here we also have equine therapy and I know how important it is. I really hope that your project rises! So, you were the very last contestant to be crowned and in less than one week you were on a plane to Cancun getting ready to prepare. How are you processing all this because it’s going so quick?

S: Yes, it was so quick! It was like a blink of an eye. It was crazy, it was a whirlwind, but I’m enjoying it. I feel like during the pandemic we had a lot of time when we were sitting still and we were locked inside so to have all of these things happen back-to-back-to-back is great. I kept up that momentum and the high of winning when I went to Cancun and that trip was amazing. I got to see the girls and bond with them before Miss USA and the Nizuc resort- beautiful!

Oh my gosh, if I could give it ten stars I would! It was gorgeous and it’s secluded in this private area that has beautiful greenery everywhere and the beach is right on the resort. We were literally treated like queens and royalty the entire time. I’m so grateful that I got to go.

L: I’ve been following pageants since 2007/2008 and I’ve never seen anything close to what you guys experienced in Cancun. Seriously, it was high class.

L: How was it like meeting the girls because you were the very last? How was it jumping in like “hello, here I am, now we’re a complete class.”

S: The girls were all really really sweet. It was funny because they all knew me. They all came up and congratulated me. They were like “oh my gosh, I watched you last weekend.” They were all hugging me and were very very supportive. It was great to come into a class of just really supportive women who are friendly and they all were just so happy for me. That was great because I think when you’re in a new environment and you just won something and you’re not used to it, it can be kind of nerve-wracking and you can be scared and tentative. It wasn’t like that at all. The girls were so sweet and everyone was so so incredibly nice.

Sabrina Lewis on the Miss USA Class of 2021 Cancun trip

Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUAjnh0pq9a/

L: Amazing! Let’s talk about your evening gown. First of all, I would like to know, how did you decide on your gown for Miss California USA? It must have a story behind it.

Sabrina Lewis's winning moment at Miss California USA 2021

Image Credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwK9aXLVrC/

S: It does! It’s actually a funny story. I was shopping around for weeks and could not find a gown at any prom store that I really liked. I tried on a bunch and I was like “no, I don’t want to wear any of these.” I just could not decide and my coach and designer had a gown in the back of his closet. Literally- in the back of his closet. He said “I’ve had this for seven years. Try it on!” It was actually a former Miss Georgia’s gown from 2014. I tried it on, it fits like a glove, no alterations whatsoever, and it was beautiful. It was a gorgeous gown and I knew that was the one.

<b>L: Give us a preview! So what can we expect from your Miss USA gown? </b>

S: You can expect it to be dramatic and unlike anything else I’ve ever worn. Definitely think red carpet, met gala, beautiful, dramatic, extravagant gown. It’s actually a Jovani from Henri’s.

L: I love Jovani too! So, I saw you play a lot with gowns, with different styles. I remember you with a cape, if I’m not wrong about it.

L: Now you came out with a fully beaded gown. What can we expect? Fully beaded? Will there be a cape on stage? Or will we have to wait to see it?

S: I think you’re gonna have to wait and see! But you’re completely right, I have a bunch of different dresses, a bunch of different gowns in my closet, and even my coach, of course, has a bunch of gowns sitting in his closet. I think that’s what is so great about Queenly is that if you do have gowns sitting in your closet, don’t just let them rot and get eaten away. I think you should let another girl have the experience to feel the way you did while wearing the gown and someone else can win in your dress. I couldn’t imagine that feeling so I think that’s what’s so great about Queenly. It connects girls that have gowns they no longer need to wear with girls that need a gown.

Thank you Sabrina! Check out the full interview here and make sure to follow Queenly on Instagram for more exclusive interviews.