Courtesy photo

As the reigning Miss California National Teenager, Kaeleigh Thorp — a 17 year-old junior at Encinal High School — will be traveling to San Diego this month to crown her successor.

"I had an extremely busy year since being crowned," said Thorp, who has made many Bay Area appearances during her reign. Thorp was a celebrity judge for the Quest for the Best Bay Area teen talent competition in San Francisco.

She also emceed the community stage at the City of San Leandro's 100th Cherry Festival and volunteered at the USS Hornet's 4th of July celebration. She helped judge the talent portion of the Miss Black California pageant in San Jose.

Thorp maintains a 4.43 GPA and a 4.00 community college GPA. She was a member of the varsity track and field team and lettered in shot put and discus. She also participated in Encinal's musicals Carousel and RENT. She will portray Rosalie in the spring production of West Side Story.