The 58 women in the competition have spent the past week in Fresno.
Cecil was last year's first runner up. She's been competing in beauty competitions for years.
She says one piece of advice she could give to the other women in the competition is to never give up.
"It took me about three years to get my first title as a teenager. It was because I kept going with it, I didn't give up. Every year I learned something new. If these girls keep coming back, I know they will succeed," Cecil said.
Miss Garden Grove's platform is compassion for the convalescing. She plays the harp for children and people in convalescent homes.
Her first appearance as Miss California will be in Redwood City for the Fourth of July parade. She has until January to gear up for the Miss America competition.
