Photo Courtesy of Jose Lozoya
2025 Florida Strawberry Festival court member Abigail Lee Mullis, daughter of Franklin (Trey) Mullis and Lori Mull, is a senior at Plant City High School. Her life’s ambition is to work hard, be independent and be a role model, leave people and places better than she finds them and greet everyone with a smile.
“A smile goes a long way and doesn’t cost anything,” she said.
That welcoming smile may be one of the reasons she was also crowned Miss Congeniality, a title given to the friendliest contestant determined by a vote among the other contestants. “Right when I first walked into the room with the other contestants I felt welcomed by everyone and felt I could be my true self,” said Mullis. “I was so excited to be voted Miss Congeniality by my peers.”
She was even more taken aback when she was crowned a court member. “I couldn’t breathe, I was gasping for air,” she said.
She’s wanted to be a court member since she was six years old, when she made a cardboard cutout of 2016 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen Haley Riley (first maid Macey Faith Riley’s older sister), and wrote “my dream one day” on it. During the pageant she had it taped in her dressing room. When Macey Riley saw it, she told her that was her sister. Mullis was able to get her picture taken with Haley, who attended the event to support her sister. “It made the night extra special,” said Mullis.
Why did you want to be a part of the Florida Strawberry Festival court?
I wanted to share with my community and young girls that you can chase your dreams with no limits. I wanted to share with them you shouldn’t let obstacles hold you back from your future.
What advice would you give to other young women who might want to seek this role?
My advice would be to not let anything or anyone hold you back. It would be sad to regret not competing because of someone else’s opinion about you. Don’t let other people define who you are. Don’t let anything hold you back and chase your dreams no matter what.
What are you most looking forward to about your year on the court?
I love Special Smiles Day. I’m part of my school’s unified cheer team, made up of athletes with and without disabilities. Some of my best friends on the team have taught me how to love people unconditionally and to give them a day that’s all about them is something I look forward to every year. As a court member, I’m beyond excited about making memories at Special Smiles Day, memories I’ll cherish.
Who’s your role model and why?
Without a doubt my mom is my role model. She is a single, hardworking woman and the most resilient person I’ve ever met in my life. She actually worked three or four jobs to make sure I could chase my dream and be where I am now. To be able to watch someone like that growing up is why I work so hard now. I work 30 or 40 hours a week at Angelina’s Deli in addition to school. To have her to look up to my whole entire life is amazing to me.
What is a core memory you have attending the Florida Strawberry Festival?
One time, when I was seven years old, I attended a concert. Hunter Hayes was one of my favorite artists. I was obsessed with him. At the concert, I was standing on a chair because I couldn’t see the stage because everyone was standing up and cheering. A lady I didn’t know who was drenched in sweat saw me trying to see the stage and came up to me. She tells me to climb up on her shoulders and she’ll take me to the front of the stage. I looked over at my mom and so I get on this lady’s shoulders and we run to the front of the stage. I remember seeing Hunter Hayes up close. It’s a memory I will never forget. It was kindness from a stranger and that’s what the festival is all about.
What’s your favorite food at the Florida Strawberry Festival?
I swear Olivia and I are twins because my favorite foods are the same as hers. Every time I walk through the gates, I go straight to Fiske fries and get that bucket of fries and walk around the festival grounds. I also enjoy the Smitty’s corn dogs. The line is usually so long but it’s worth it.
What do you hope to gain by being a member of the 2025 Florida Strawberry Festival court?
I hope to make so many more memories. When I walk onto the festival grounds I recollect so many memories that I’ve made over the years. I’m looking forward to creating so many more cherished memories from this experience. That’s what the Florida Strawberry Festival is all about, welcoming everybody and providing such a safe environment where you’re able to create lasting memories.
What makes Plant City so special?
I just love how everyone is so welcoming and nice. I love working at Angelina’s Deli in downtown and meeting all the local small business owners. They’re all role models to me. One day at work a customer walked into the deli and commented that he wasn’t from around here and it was weird how everyone was so nice to him. I guess I never realized it because I was born and raised here and it’s normal. He told me he was from New York and people don’t act like this there. He told me it was weird that I welcomed him with a smile. I told him that’s just Plant City but it made me think. It’s genuinely true. Everyone in this community is so nice and supportive. I’ll never forget that experience.
