Nadia Mejia

Last updated
Nadia Mejia
Nadia Mejia 2015.jpg
Miss California USA 2016, Long Beach, California on December 6, 2015
Born
Nadia Grace Eicher Mejia

(1995-11-22) November 22, 1995 (age 28)
Diamond Bar, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Beauty pageant titleholder
  • Model
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title Miss California USA 2016
AgencyNewmark Models LA
Hair colorBrown (dyed blonde)
Eye colorGreen
Major
competition(s)		 Miss California USA 2016
(Winner)
Miss USA 2016
(Top 5)
Miss USA Community 2024
(Appointed)
Miss Universe Ecuador 2024
(1st Runner-Up)

Nadia Grace Eicher Mejia (born 22 November 1995) is an American-Ecuadorian model and beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss California USA 2016 and placed in the Top 5 at Miss USA 2016. She also competed at Miss Universe Ecuador 2024, eventually finishing first runner-up. [1] [2]

Mejia is the daughter of Ecuadorian-born musician Gerardo Mejía, best known for the 1991 song "Rico Suave", and Kathy Eicher, Miss West Virginia USA 1989, and appeared with her family on the reality television show Suave Says. [3] [4] [5] She is a 2013 graduate of Diamond Bar High School. [3] [4] Mejia works as a model and is signed to Next Management. [5] [6] She once suffered from anorexia. [7] [8]

Pageantry

Mejia won the Miss California USA 2016 title on December 6, 2015 after previously competing three times for Miss California Teen USA and making the top twenty at Miss California USA 2015. [5] [9] She went on to represent California at the Miss USA 2016 pageant where she was voted Fan Favourite and made the top five. Mejia's open sharing of her body image struggle was praised as a contributing factor for winning the fan favourite vote, however her failed attempt at answering a question about economics during the interview competition was also widely reported in the media. [7] [8] [10] In 2018, Mejía was featured in major advertising campaigns for Skechers and Too Faced Cosmetics. [11] In January 2024 Mejia returned to pageantry, participating in the virtual casting for the first edition of Miss Universe Ecuador, [12] where she was selected as one of the 25 contestants chosen to vie for the title. She was later designated as delegate to the U.S. Ecuadorian community in the national pageant. [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "Nadia Mejia Celebrity Profile". hollywoodlife.com. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  2. ↑ Gore, Leada (5 June 2016). "'Rico Suave's' daughter: Miss California is Nadia Mejía, daughter of '90s pop star Gerardo". AL.com.
  3. 1 2 Alfonso, Mirna (9 December 2015). "Diamond Bar H.S. Grad Crowned Miss California USA". Diamond Bar Patch.
  4. 1 2 Bueno, Kathy (9 December 2015). "Find Out Which Former Reality Star Just Won Miss California". Entertainment Tonight.
  5. 1 2 3 Preston, Tim (8 December 2015). "New Miss California plans holiday visit". The Daily Independent.
  6. ↑ Robbins, Paul; Crouch, Bethany (17 May 2016). "2016 Miss USA Competition: Interview with Miss California". Fox 40.
  7. 1 2 "We're so grateful Miss California Nadia Mejia is open about her body image struggles". Yahoo Style. 7 June 2016.
  8. 1 2 Petit, Stephanie (6 June 2016). "Miss California Reveals She Was 'Endlessly' Body Shamed and Became Anorexic". People.
  9. ↑ "Miss Calif. USA, Miss Calif. Teen USA Discuss Pageant". CBS Los Angeles.
  10. ↑ Dicker, Ron (6 June 2016). "Miss USA Contestant Nadia Mejia Responds Perfectly To Interview Flop". Huffington Post.
  11. ↑ "Nadia Grace on Instagram: "OH MY 😭😭😭 DREAMS DO COME TRUE. NEW BEAUTY CAMPAIGN @TOOFACED ✨"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25.
  12. ↑ "Nadia contestant for Miss Universe Ecuador 2024". metroecuador.
  13. ↑ "Nadia was named Miss USA Community 2024". EU.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Natasha Martinez
 Miss California USA
2016		Succeeded by
India Williams
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