Miss California USA pageant finals held in Pasadena

Miss Greater San Diego Mabelynn Capeluj won the Miss California USA pageant Sunday in the pageant finals at Pasadena Civic Auditorium.
Last year, the pageant made international headlines by featuring two openly lesbian contestants. This year, the pageant rules were expanded to include its first transgender contestant, Kylan Arianna Wenzel, 26, of Century City.

The pageant selects the contestant who will represent California in the Miss USA contest.
One of the 229 contestants was Haley Amber Heiselt, a Cal Poly Pomona freshman majoring in mechanical engineering.
The contestants are judged in three categories, interview, swimsuit and evening gown, and judging criteria include character, poise, confidence and personality, according to the Miss California USA website.