Woman with stage 3 cancer competes in Miss California USA pageant

LONG BEACH, Calif. (FOX 11) - More than a hundred young women from all over the state are in Long Beach this weekend competing to be crowned Miss California USA. But only one woman is competing while battling a deadly disease.

FOX 11's own Susan Hirasuna joins us from Long Beach with the story of Andrea Andrade - Miss Fresno County.

27-year-old Andrea Andrade fits right in with the other Miss California USA contestants. Her hair, her physique, her broad smile and bright eyes.

If we didn't tell you, you might not know that she's battling stage three colon cancer.

8-months ago, Andrade got the diagnosis and she has the scars to show for the multiple surgeries that she has endured. Her pageant sash hides the portal for her chemotherapy.

Andrade says she's dreamed of winning a pageant since she was a little girl.

With a prognosis of 6-months to two years to live, she knew cancer or not - this had to be her year to compete.

In the swimsuit competition, contestants offer up a fun fact about themselves. Difficult to hear but easy to understand…Andrade calls herself a fighter.