Nadia Mejia

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.[1][2]

Nadia Mejia
Miss California USA 2016, Long Beach, California on December 6, 2015
Born	Nadia Grace Eicher Mejia November 22, 1995 Diamond Bar, California, U.S.
Occupation	Model
Height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Title	Miss California USA
Beauty pageant titleholder
Agency	Newmark Models LA
Hair color	Brown (dyed blonde)
Eye color	Green
Major competition(s)	Miss California USA (Winner) Miss USA 2016 (Top 5)

Mejia is the daughter of Ecuadorian musician Gerardo Mejía, best known for the 1990s 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]

Mejia won the Miss California USA 2016 title in November 2016 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]

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. Alfonso, Mirna (9 December 2015). "Diamond Bar H.S. Grad Crowned Miss California USA". Diamond Bar Patch.
4. Bueno, Kathy (9 December 2015). "Find Out Which Former Reality Star Just Won Miss California". Entertainment Tonight.
5. 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. "We're so grateful Miss California Nadia Mejia is open about her body image struggles". Yahoo Style. 7 June 2016.
8. 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.