Name: Sande Charles
Title: Ms. California United States
Married/Single: Single
Kids: None
City you live in: Hermosa Beach/Phoenix
A typical day in my life includes…
wake up, make coffee, check emails, walk my English Bulldog, then head to the gym. After the gym, head home to eat some breakfast, which is always the same thing, egg whites with spinach. I usually eat on my patio and do daily morning devotion. Once, I am done with my devotion and breakfast, I then head to work at the MLB (Major League Baseball) Network. After work at the MLBN, I head home to work on all my reporting, Ms. California and personal work. If I am feeling super motivated I will do a second gym session. On the weekends, it is the same routine except I work for Fox Sports.
I was born…
in Phoenix, Arizona
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the sunsets and all the different sporting events! Growing up my dad would take my brothers and me to every sporting event there was. Arizona loves their sports and we are so fortunate to be able to experience every different type from Hockey in the Desert to the NFL! I remember attending the Roadrunner games at the Coliseum! We really are blessed.
I’m listening to…
Oceans by Hillsong.
My family…
I am the only girl of five brothers. My dad is a lawyer who loves his sports and my mom is a woman of integrity who has taught me how to be a lady and love fashion. My dad has been an attorney in Arizona since before me and any of my brothers were born. He has his own practice in Glendale, Arizona. My mom works for Shamrock Foods in Phoenix, AZ. A few of my brothers have followed in my dad’s steps and are attorneys in Scottsdale and Tucson. My other brother works for Arizona Congress, one works in real estate and the other one runs our family hotel in Hawaii. I was the only girl and the only one who went into the sports world. We are all ASU graduates except the one rival who is a Wildcat. We have Arizona covered I would say! We even have a cabin in Prescott. Growing up we would always escape the heat and head North.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Samantha Steele, aka Sam Ponder. When I worked with her at ESPN she was Sam Steele. She is also a fellow Zonie girl and we have a lot of similarities within our beliefs and family upbringing. I would love to sit down and talk with her about what it’s like to be a woman in a man’s world, since I too want to be a sports reporter. She handles it with class and dignity and I respect that. Some girls might feel they have to act a certain way or dress a certain way in order to make it to the top of a mans world, but Mrs. Ponder never lowers herself or her standards for anything. I love that about her and see that in myself.
One thing I cannot live without…
my phone, it’s so bad. People always make comments about it.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a reporter and on the side a veterinarian that would save all the abused animals. I had pictured it in my head on camera by day, vet by night and saving the world while juggling it all. I still hope to one -day start a no kill animal shelter. While attending ASU I would go to the Tempe Animal Shelter and sit with the dogs and pet them. I wish I could have taken them all home.
I’m inspired by…
people who don’t let fear get in their way. People who go for what they want regardless of what others say or do. So many people will try to bring you down a long the way, but the ones that keep going and keep their eye on the prize, who live with integrity and never give up those are the people who inspire me.
The one person who motivates me is…
myself. Motivation is an inside job. No one can make you get up and do anything. No one is going to come to your house and make your dreams come true. YOU have to get up and make it happen. I don’t believe in taking days off. I am willing to do whatever while everyone else does whatever.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
I would hope to change people’s ideas on what they eat. If they could see how the animals are brutally tortured or abused on farms that are used for our food. I think they would re think what they eat. In fact, we don’t need animal protein at all. It is one of the lies the food industry has brain washed people to think. But do people know that most cancers and diseases are caused by animal protein?? When people drink milk they are drinking processed crap and puss from the cows being abused???? I really think if people had more compassion and cared about themselves and the other living beings they would adopt a healthier lifestyle. Turning a blind eye isn’t helping anyone or any of them. Ignorance isn’t always bliss.
The perfect day would be…
my perfect day would be to wake up at my beach house. Have coffee and breakfast on my patio with my English bulldog while doing my devotion and then getting ready to head to the sporting event I was covering as a reporter! It doesn’t matter if its high school sports to professional, I am just happy reporting and being a part of the big show. I am so passionate about it and it is so exciting to me.
My first job was…
I worked with my best girlfriends at a pizza place on 44th street and Indian School while I was in college at Arizona State. It has since changed names.
My favorite escape…
the beach or church.
My life…
is not easy, but I keep pushing. I think everyone expects everything is handed to me since I won or even before I won Ms. California. That couldn’t be further from the truth. It is a struggle and it’s hard and some times I am so stressed I don’t even know how I am going to be able to afford to put gas in my car or feed my dog. But you keep pushing and having faith. There is a reason I was chosen for this role and I want use it as much as I can. I want to be an example for young girls and for anyone struggling in life. Keep going. Don’t stop!! It will pay off!!!
I’m currently working on…
I was recently asked to be a producer on the show I work on! I am so excited and feel so blessed. All the hard work is finally paying off. So, I am preparing for those shows. I will always continue to work toward being the best reporter I can be. I am currently working on getting a new agent and updating all of my on-camera work as well. As Ms. California, I have a lot of appearances all over so gearing up for the next half of those appearances as well.
Always…
be kind.
Never…
GIVE UP!!!
Favorite Quote…
“It’s nice to be important, it’s more important to be nice.”
Biggest Dream…
my biggest dream is to be a sports reporter. I would love, love to be able to report on the teams I grew up watching, The Suns, The Cardinals, the Diamondbacks and the Coyotes.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
chewing with mouth open. Blowing your nose or sneezing at the dinner table or any table where there is food. When people don’t have a sense of urgency. When professional people don’t email back.. to me that is pretty “un-professional” and tacky. Not knowing when to use there, their, they’re, to, too, lose and loose. Eating off my plate. I don’t share food. I am a lot like Joey from Friends. I love my chips and salsa, hummus, fries. It’s all mine.
