The fairest of them all
Molly Shore
When Koreen Dickson’s name was announced as this year’s winner of the
Miss Burbank title, her first thought was, “Wait, that’s my name.”
Dickson, an 18-year-old freshman at Cal State Northridge, said she
did not have time to cry after realizing she had won.
“I was actually too embarrassed to cry,” Dickson said. “I dropped
my crown twice on stage during the walk.”
Sharing the limelight with Dickson was Aijia Guttman, 16, a
Burbank High School junior, who captured the Miss Teen Burbank 2003
title.
“I was actually pretty surprised when I won,” said Guttman, whose
first name is pronounced “Asia.”
Dickson, a business major with a minor in nutrition, eventually
hopes to combine the two interests and open her own gym.
Guttman also has her future mapped out.
“I definitely want to go into entertainment,” she said.
Although Guttman models, and has appeared in TV commercials for
McDonald’s and cereal companies, her passion is singing.
“Eventually I want to teach music,” Guttman said.
Both winners look forward to a year of community involvement in
events planned for them by the Burbank Junior Chamber of Commerce,
which sponsored the pageant.
In April, they will ride down Olive Avenue in the annual Burbank
on Parade.
Guttman said she will continue her volunteer work at Temple Emanu
El, and will begin community service volunteer work at Burbank First
United Methodist Church.
Dickson will make appearances at elementary schools, including one
at Roosevelt Elementary School in April for Career Day. She will also
appear with Aijia at the annual Easter Egg Hunt in McCambridge Park.
Dickson and Guttman advance to the state competition at the end of
August in Fresno.