Santa Cruz Sentinel from Santa Cruz, California • Page 32

ivin C-6-Santa Cruz Sentinel Friday, Sept. 7, 1984 And it's off to Atlantic City HI1HW 1 1 I 1 mi) WT.gT.ktH imi. Miss California Donna Cherry has spent the past few months living in Santa Cruz and grooming herself for the big moment the Miss America Pageant next week. Her official wardrobe includes the red wool suit and matching hat, left, from Maison Mendessalle in San Francisco. Below, she spends a last few hours with her Santa Cruz hostess Judy Hernandez, who's planning to make the trip east, too, for the pageant.

fi iff" -III i i ft Wikv -LFi Photos by Dan Coyro Nil lit IN ITS 15th YEAR ANNOUNCES ITS MORNING PROGRAM AND NEW AFTERNOON EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM Starting September 10th For Children 3Vz To 512 Yrs. Afternoon Hours: Lunch Time 1 Preschool Class Extended Care Program Openings Available in 2, 3, or 5 day sessions CLASS SIZE LIMITED TO 15 CHILDREN For Enrollment Information Call: Lucy Rugges or Candi ledwich 423-3994 203 Leonard Street, Santa Cruz would rather be emotionally nude." She explained: "I would rather express vulnerability on my thoughts and feelings about life sharing my doubts and not being scared to show them because they are real. "The bottom line is expressing a gut honesty." Her ideal performer is Eileen Farrell, who during her long career stood up to the operatic and pop music worlds and successfully sang in both, which is Cherry's goal, too. "She was misunderstood by both worlds she did it to the disgruntlement of people but she did it anyway she did it all." Cherry says she is developing a screen play based on Farrell's life. Cherry expresses relief at her discovery that the women who participate in the Miss America Pageant are not "cut-out, stereotyped paper dolls." "I never was," she says, "and as I got involved I found most of the people in the pageant aren't paper dolls.

"I feel I've grown so much since the Miss California Pageant it's like getting a Ph.D. degree in human relations. I've learned that beauty is not something you put on it's something you bring out." Maffett came in one evening. "I was singing an aria from 'Carmen' and minding my own business," Cherry recalled, "when they told me a lady wanted to see me at her table. I didn't know much about Miss America but I did remember seeing her picture on a corn flakes box!" Moffatt talked Cherry into entering the preliminary for the Miss West Los Angeles Pageant even loaned her clothing to wear for her appearances there.

Cherry made it to the top ten but was told she had to lose weight if she wanted to continue. She started "living and breathing" at a gym, and lost 25 pounds. There's been nothing but success for Cherry ever since. She sipped a diet soda (she lives on salads, a little meat and fish and diet drinks, her hostess said,) and talked some more about herself and, inevitably, about the Vanessa Williams debacle. "In the long run, it's going to strengthen the pageant," she said.

"I hope Vanessa can survive, career-wise. She's gone through enough torment." Would Cherry pose in the nude? "I would not pose nude," she said, "I Packed in one of the six bags or the trunk which Donna Cherry is taking to the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City is this black, sequined gown by Tracy Mills. Cherry, who loves the gown, says, "This dress is to die for!" She'll wear it on the last night of the pageant. By BARBARA BURKLO Sentinel Staff Writer TALK ABOUT positive thinking Donna Cherry who, as Miss California, left today to compete in the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City exudes positive thoughts. "I'm a rebel with a positive cause," she said, as she comfortably curled up in a soft chair in the living room of Santa Cruzans Judy and Marty Hernandez, who have been her hosts for the past few months.

"I am tired of people putting you into boxes and expecting you to stay there. Anything you think you can do, you can, if you simply focus your energies on that goal." And focusing her energies is exactly what the aqua-eyed blond has been doing ever since a previous Miss America, Debra Sue Maffett, discovered her singing opera in a Los Angeles restaurant and suggested she try out for the local pageant in that area. The youngest of five children, Cherry was born in Colombia, South America, where her parents were Protestant Evangelical missionaries. As the family moved around, Cherry says her best "friend" was her phonograph and record collection, which she played constantly. Early on, she began doing impersonations of the recording artists and her ultimate mix of opera and pop singing was born.

After high school in San Gabriel, she spent a summer at the Academy of Dra- Ask me why I love my church Call 688-7329 Cliffwood Heights Neighborhood Church A Curing. Sharing. Reaching Out Church Monterey and Kennedy in Capilola Cabrilloftark FAMILY DENTISTRY sloan H. are matic Arts and then a year at Oral Roberts University. Of the latter experience, she said, "I found it to be limiting I agree with Oral Roberts' principles, but it wasn't the place for me to get what I wanted to get from life, career-wise.

"I'm glad I went I was going through a real questioning period in my life. There are fabulous people at that school who helped me through that time. I discovered that Christian ideals and principles should be a goal to strive for. You shouldn't look to people as your sole inspiration because people will disappoint you. You'll be disappointed if you take a magnifying glass and look at anybody." For a while, Cherry traveled with a' gospel band and drama group throughout this country, Canada and Europe.

"That's where I learned to be professional; to give my best even when I didn't feel like it," she said. Cherry completed her education at California State University at North-ridge, where she received a bachelor's degree in operatic vocal performance. She was working as a singing waitress at Miceli's in Hollywood when Debra Sue OLD FASHIONED BREAKFAST Sunday, Sept. 9 222 Market Street 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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