Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Pamala Kennedy

A Los Gatos pastor's wife seeks Mrs. California title

By Bob Aldrich

A Los Gatos pastor's wife and mother of three, who is also a professional model, is hoping that her talent, looks and experience as an author and speaker on family values will bring her the title of "Mrs. California USA" and, with luck, "Mrs. United States."

Just now Pamala Kennedy, 44, has settled for "Mrs. Los Gatos," a title bestowed by a panel of Mrs. California Pageant judges after the wife of Dr. Richard Kennedy, minister of Los Gatos Christian Church, was persuaded by friends to submit her photograph and qualifications. She will take part in the Mrs. California USA Pageant in Newport Beach March 15-18. The pageant operates under the the Miss USA umbrella.

Kennedy will take part in a swimsuit "physical fitness" contest that is part of the state-level competition. She also will be questioned by judges in a private interview and then another on stage.

After eliminations, Kennedy was one of 20 married women chosen to compete in the state pageant, which includes four areas: physical fitness, evening gown, and the two interviews.

Among friends lending an encouraging word are a husband-and-wife team, Dee and Alex Vega of Santa Clara. "They've been involved with the Miss America contest for years and know a lot about it," Kennedy said. They've acted as her coaches. Her husband has also been encouraging.

If fortune smiles on Kennedy over her 19 competitors, she will go on to the Mrs. United States pageant in Las Vegas in late July.

Kennedy has given lectures on family and Christian values in the Los Gatos area. She is author of a book on marriage, Where Have All the Lovers Gone?, brought out by the respected Thomas Nelson Christian publishing house.

"Of course if I should win Mrs. United States I will be speaking all over the country," she said.

The Kennedys have two daughters, Apryl Wiese of Milpitas and Amy Graham of Federal Way, Wash.; a 12-year-old son, Aaron, and a granddaughter, Chelsea. The family came to Los Gatos from Modesto in 1993. The Los Gatos Christian Church has one of the largest congregations in the West Valley.