The 2024 Florida Strawberry Festival First Maid Taylor Marie Gregory, daughter of Diane and Steve Gregory, is a junior at Seffner Christian Academy.
A student athlete, Gregory is a member of Varsity Sideline Cheer, Competition Cheer, Varsity Soccer and Varsity Softball teams. She is a member of Hillsborough County 4-H, participating in both the rabbit and horticulture shows. She is also involved in Drama, Honors Choir and Student Government.
Academically, she is ranked among the top three in her class and is a member of the National Honors Society and Society of Mensa Scholars. She has also met the minimum requirements to be a Florida Medallion Scholar as a junior.
In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, baking, clay shooting, spending quality time with family and friends and playing with her rabbit, Waffles.
Her volunteerism with Veterans, through Wreaths Across America, Operation Homefront and The Salvation Army, was sparked by her love for her grandfather. “Veterans are super near and dear to my heart because my grandpa served in Vietnam,” she said. “So many people that we know used to serve or are active-duty right now. They’re such a large portion of our community and people who I choose to honor.”
When she heard her name called as one of the top five, tears filled her eyes. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was five and it still hasn’t sunk in yet,” she said. “I felt like it was very surreal.”
Q: What is your experience in pageants?
I was in the top 10 in the Florida Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Pageant last year. I was also crowned the 2020 Junior Harvest Queen for the Hillsborough County Fair and I was the 2021 USA National Miss Central Florida Junior Teen so I’ve done that system a few times. I was USA National Miss Tampa Teen this past year.
Q: What’s your favorite part of Florida Strawberry Festival?
My favorite part of the Florida Strawberry Festival is probably the Neighborhood Village because it’s a collection of all the different talents in our community and it showcases everyone’s individuality but it all portrays strawberries.
Q: What’s your favorite Florida
Strawberry Festival food?
Definitely the Fiske Fries, the Cajun ones. They’re my moms favorite too. We share a bucket but then end up getting two because I can eat a whole bucket by myself. The Cajun seasoning is sitting on a table next to the stand and I shake it on their fries. No ketchup, just Cajun.
Q: Who’s your role model and why?
My role model is Kayleigh McEnany, the former White House Press Secretary. She’s a strong Christian woman who is involved on television which is something rare to see. She has a successful career and is also a wife and a mom first. I feel like she is embracing being what feminine is all about, it’s all about balance.
My role model is also my parents because they’ve shown me what teamwork really is and how to create a loving home and how to put others first in every situation.
Q: Is there anyone you’d like to thank for helping you reach your goal?
There’s such a long list but thank you to my Lord and Savior because without him I wouldn’t be here. That’s first because the amount of prayer that’s gone into this has been huge. Second, I’d like to thank my parents because this was a big commitment for them too. They’ve pushed me to be the best I can be and encouraged me so much. Then I’d like to thank Sara Beth Carlton for all of her help and countless hours to get me where I am.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about your year on the Court?
I think I”m most looking forward to making this my mission field by serving the Lord where I’m at because there are so many people you can touch. I also feel like I’ve gained four best friends in just a couple of days.