A few months ago, the Miss California Organization was contacted by an assisted living facility in Maryland regarding a replacement sash for Miss California 1947 Laura Jean Emery. Mrs. Emery is a resident at this facility and often reminisced to staff and fellow residents about her experience as Miss California. On November 26, 2024, Mrs. Emery was presented with a replacement sash. Below are sections of the story as appearing in the Washington Post.
Reprinted with permission from Michael Laris as published by the Washington Post
Thank you to Ruth Da Silva at Brighton Gardens at Friendship Heights for this opportunity to honor our Miss California forever, and The Sash Company for the replacement sash.
Miss California 1947, Laura Jean Emery, celebrated her 96th birthday in style at her assisted-living facility nestled in the charming suburb of Chevy Chase, Maryland. This birthday was a grand celebration of a life filled with extraordinary experiences and contributions to her community.
Throughout her life, Emery has embarked on a series of adventures that have taken her far beyond the world of beauty contests. After her success as Miss California, she transitioned into a successful modeling career, gracing the pages of magazines and participating in fashion shows that celebrated her striking looks and charismatic presence. However, her journey did not stop there; Laura felt a calling to give back to society and became a dedicated community organizer.
Golden State’s prestigious pageant, as she tells it, opened a lifetime of doors for her. And once through those doors, she tried to make things better. After the contest spurred gigs in modeling and advertising, she helped launch a union for models working in San Francisco and campaigned for a standardized hourly rate for her colleagues (Laris).
Her passion for helping others led her to pursue higher education, culminating in a master’s degree in social work. With this advanced degree, she devoted her life to making a difference, working with organizations such as Metro TeenAIDS, where she focused on educating and supporting young people in navigating the challenges of their lives. Additionally, she extended her compassion to inmates in Washington, D.C., believing firmly in the inherent goodness of all individuals and the potential for redemption and change.
The staff at her assisted-living facility had been scheming to present her a new sash, which had somehow disappeared along her path from the West Coast to the nation’s capital, where she made her home for decades.
Ruth da Silva, the concierge at the front desk at Brighton Gardens, was the one who reached out to the Miss California organizers to get a replacement sash (Laris).
On her birthday, staff along with Mrs. Emery's son surprised her with a beautiful new sash, a heartfelt gesture that replaced the one she had lost many years ago. This simple yet meaningful gift was a touching reminder of her past and the cherished memories of her pageant days, which she holds dear to her heart. Laura’s eyes sparkled with delight as she donned the sash, reminiscing about the joy and excitement of her time as Miss California.
The celebration was filled with laughter, love, and music, as Laura, ever the entertainer, spontaneously broke into song, sharing her gift of music with those around her. Her impromptu performances have become a beloved tradition among her friends and caregivers, who appreciate her unwavering spirit and zest for life. Even at 96, Laura Jean Emery continues to inspire those around her, proving that age is merely a number and that the ability to spread happiness and joy is timeless. We are grateful for our forever Miss California 1947. Her life story is a testament to resilience, creativity, and an enduring belief in the goodness of humanity, making her a cherished member of her community and a shining example of a life well-lived.
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