San Diego Junior Theatre Alumni

Francine Maigue

Francine Maigue San Diego’s very own Francine Antoinette Maigue was crowned UCLA’s Homecoming Queen and is now known as the university’s “Royal Bruin.” Proudly representing UCLA’s Office of Residential Life, where she served as President, Resident Assistant (RA) and is now Assistant Resident Director, as its Royal Bruin nominee, Francine submitted an application including essays and lists of her many college achievements and was then invited as a finalist to be interviewed by a panel of judges consisting of UCLA leaders and alumni. After stunning the esteemed panel with her beauty, wit, composure and charm, she took home the beautiful crown sponsored by the renowned Sarah Leonard Jewelers. Francine is being honored for her outstanding service to the UCLA community, academic excellence and other university achievements. This is the first time in several years that such an honor is being awarded. Among Francine’s many college honors, she has been awarded the prestigious UCLA Distinguished Bruin and Woman for Change Awards, numerous scholarships, is a member of eight honor societies and is even on the Dean’s List. As a World Arts & Cultures major, concentrating in Dance Studies, Francine’s artistic achievements include being hand-picked to perform with Mikhail Baryshnikov and the White Oak Dance Project, representing the university and winning at the prestigious American College Dance Festival, held at The John F. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., choreographing a musical featured at New York’s Lincoln Center and founding her very own dance company, Outta WAC, which toured the Southern California area at charity events and appearances at Downtown Disney and the House of Blues. Francine also developed The Neverland Youth Dance Project (NYDP), a college bound program for aspiring performers who wish to pursue dance at the university level and beyond. In addition, she recently completed work on a DVD documentary entitled "Youth in Studio & Competitive Dance: No Small Act of Heroism," which she produced and directed. San Diegans have had the privilege of watching Francine grow up on local stages as she performed for years with The Ballet Conservatory, San Diego Junior Theatre, Christian Community Theater, Starlight (San Diego Civic Light Opera), Chula Vista High School’s The Main Attraction and The Body Arts Center. The community celebrated her with a grand debutante ball held in 1998 complete with a horse-drawn carriage at our San Diego Convention Center. Francine is perhaps best known as 1999’s Miss Philippines and for having been the eight-time Pacific Coast Talent Champion for her prowess in dance (with consecutive wins from 1992-1999). She now serves as Dance Educator and Public Relations Manager for Theresa Bendorf’s award-winning *Mystic Stepper School of Dance, San Diego’s undisputed Home of Champions located in Allied Gardens. A veteran of stage and screen, Francine can also be seen in commercials and films. As Homecoming Queen, Francine’s main responsibilities included attending her royal coronation as her peers cheered her in the campus’s Bruin Plaza, judging contests included in the festivities, riding in the famous parade and attending the spirit rally. Of course no Homecoming would be complete without a Homecoming football game, which Queen Francine got to watch with her loved ones from the special alumni press box. UCLA’s mighty Bruins were victorious beating Stanford 21 to 0. There was much to be celebrated as the day of the winning game also served as Francine’s birthday! *To make arrangements for appearances, interviews and photo shoots with Francine, call 619.241.1105 or email fmaigue@orl.ucla.edu

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