The stage was set, literally and figuratively, at the Charlie Grime Family Agricultural Center Jan. 11 as 118 contestants showed grace, poise and personality as they vied for a title in the 2025 Junior Royalty Pageant, sponsored by the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Contestants participated in one of four age categories including Baroness (five to six years old), Duchess (seven to nine years old), Princess (10 to 12 years old) and Queen (13 to 15 years old).
The pageant, emceed by Mark Yarbrough and Rhett Rollyson, included a preliminary competition, where each contestant was introduced and walked the stage, smiling and waving to the onlookers and judges.
Following a slideshow detailing the 2024 Junior Royalty Queen and Court’s reign (Queen Brooke Browning, Princess Ava Bikowski, Duchess Kezley Salinas and Baroness Reagan Causey), the field of contestants was narrowed to 10 finalists in each age category. Contestants were judged on personality (30 percent of total score), stage presence (30 percent of total score) and overall beauty (40 percent of total score).
Finalists in each category
included:
Baroness: Quinn Eliza Lazzara, Sofia Navarrete, Emersyn Dixon, Jessi Faye Lunsford, Charlie Rae Kocsis, Breelyn Asher Brock, Sunny Rae Wiggs, Emma Grace Gill, Adalynn Lloyd, Gianna Gutierrez
Duchess: Camdyn Rae Waters, Olivia Grace Valerius, Lily Kate Gaschler, Charleigh Rae Harris, Alani Rose Pouncy, Harper Grace Sikes, Claire Marie Cannon, Sailor Ainsley Showalter, Ava Grace Robinson, Adalynn Jade Swartz
Princess: Ainslee Creel, Rowen Ashford Morgan, Calleigh Jo Welch, Molly Jewel Terrell, Addisyn Danielle Wise, Georgia Sue-Ann Hunter, Kadance Drawdy, Emma Russell, Rylee Lynn Eranen, Lily Anna Lynn Lawton
Queen: Emma Jayne Fagnan, Aubrey Ellis Duncan, Alleigh Lynn Goff, Josslyn Bree Pentecost, Georgia Peyton Pippin, Trista Maye Azeltine, Teagan Ella-Rose Brake, Alexis Nicole Garza, Jade Aubrie Brevard, Cherith Amber Milligan
Each finalist in the three younger age groups then answered an on-stage interview question: “The theme is ‘The Stage is Set’ so we want to know why are you excited about the new stage at the Florida Strawberry Festival?” The finalists in the Queen age group each drew a question from a fishbowl that contained three questions. The contestants spoke excitedly about seeing the top-notch performers take the stage at the festival, some naming specific artists like Reba McEntire. Contestant Charlie Rae Harris hopes that Taylor Swift will someday make another appearance on the festival’s new stage.
After the interview questions, each group was narrowed down to five contestants and a winner and first runner-up was chosen.
Top five finalists in each age group included:
Baroness: Sofia Navarrete, Jessi Faye Lunsford, Emma Grace Gill, Adalynn Lloyd, Gianna Gutierrez
Duchess: Camdyn Rae Waters, Charleigh Rae Harris, Alani Rose Pouncy, Harper Grace Sikes, Adalynn Jade Swartz
Princess: Ainslee Creel, Rowen Ashford Morgan, Calleigh Jo Welch, Georgia Sue-Ann Hunter, Lily Anna Lynn Lawton
Queen: Emma Jayne Fagnan, Aubrey Ellis Duncan, Alleigh Lynn Goff, Teagan Ella-Rose Brake, Cherith Amber Milligan
After a few anticipatory moments, age group winners were announced:
Baroness Adalynn Lloyd and First Runner-up Sofia Navarrete
Duchess Charleigh Rae Harris and First Runner-up Adalynn Jade Swartz
Princess Rowen Ashford Morgan and First Runner-up Ainslee Creel
Queen Alleigh Lynn Goff and First Runner-up Teagan Ella-Rose Brake
The winners, wearing crowns and sashes and carrying flowers and trophies, were congratulated by family members and loved ones. For Morgan, the moment was extra special because the former princess was her cousin. “It was really cool to be crowned by my own family,” she said. Goff said she’s been attending the festival since she was in diapers and it holds a special place in her heart. “This means the world to me,” she said. “I look forward to this year’s festival and making memories with the court.”
Florida Strawberry Festival President Kyle Robinson smiled as he was photographed with and congratulated the new court. “This is so exciting because this pageant really is the unofficial kickoff to the Florida Strawberry Festival season,” he said. “All the girls were all beautiful and I was blown away by how well they could speak in front of a large audience. These are life skills they’re developing.”
The Junior Royalty Queen and Court can be found participating in all types of activities at the Florida Strawberry Festival as well as events throughout the community in the upcoming year.
