California IN BRIEF : WALNUT CREEK : Pageant Winner Answers Critics

Newly crowned Miss California USA Shannon La Rhea Marketic said feminists who picketed the pageant missed the point of the 39-year-old event. Asked about demonstrators’ claims that pageants such as the one she won Saturday night are demeaning, the Los Angeles resident said the contests help participants become “whole” women by building self-esteem and self-knowledge. “The people outside don’t really understand what a beauty pageant does for a girl,” said the 20-year-old Marketic, whose dozens of prizes include a 1992 Toyota Paseo, a full-length mink, $12,000 cash, a “dream” shopping spree, a cruise to Mexico, a suede wardrobe and a chance to become Miss USA. Lines of about 60 feminists and animal rights activists waved banners at motorists outside the auditorium as spectators in formal wear strolled by. Marketic, a junior majoring in telecommunications at Pepperdine University, said she hopes to be a children’s defense lawyer. She entered the contest as Miss West Los Angeles.