2025 Ms. Senior California Pageant Queen

HOLLI KENLEY was born in Ely, Nevada. However, she and her three sisters were raised in California’s Central Valley. In high school, Holli excelled in academics and music. She studied flute throughout her adolescent, teen, and young adult years. She was voted Outstanding Senior Class Female in a graduating class of over 900 students.

Holli graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a Bachelor’s degree in French and Music. She pursued a career in teaching, and was twice voted Teacher of the Year within the Desert Sands Unified School District; first at Jefferson Middle School and then at La Quinta International Baccalaureate High School. She also served as English Department Chair at LQHS.

In her 40s, Holli graduated with High Honors from Chapman University, earning a Master’s Degree in Psychology. In addition to 30 years as a Marriage and Family Therapist, Holli has authored 11 recovery books. Two of her books – “Breaking Through Betrayal: And Recovering The Peace Within (2nd Edition)” and “SHIFTING Bravely: A Path to Growth, Healing, and Transformation,” -- have consistently ranked in Amazon’s Top 100 books in Recovery – ACOA.

Holli has advanced her work in the field of psychology as a seasoned speaker. She has been a six-time presenter at the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists’ Annual State Conferences speaking on betrayal, cyber bullying, and our relationship with technology. She has presented workshops to therapists throughout California and has taught guest classes at higher level learning institutions. In September 2022, Holli delivered her first TEDx Talk – Betrayal: The Loss No One Is Talking About – receiving over 200,000 views to date.

A long advocate for victims of bullying and cyberbully, she speaks with youth stressing

a message of The Power of Worth, and teaches young people how to discover, define, and

determine their own self-worth.

For fun, Holli enjoys swimming, walking, and cooking. She loves being a mom and a wife! She has been married to her husband Dan for 39 years. They live in the desert beauty of Rancho Mirage.