Features

FRESNO — Miss Greater Bay Area finished second at the Miss California pageant — not bad, since a gaffe almost cost her a place in the finals. 

Nicole Lamarche’s name wasn’t called Saturday as one of the ten finalists because the outgoing Miss California read another contestant’s name by mistake, leaving Lamarche out of the competition. 

After officials realized their goof, Lamarche and Miss Greater East Bay, Rachelle King, hugged and traded places.