Although the Florida Strawberry Festival has just come to a close, berry lovers still have the Tampa Bay Blueberry Festival to look forward to this spring. And one young woman will reign over the festival as Miss Blueberry Queen.
This will the be pageant’s third year. Organizer Julie Hasting said there is one way that the Blueberry Pageant is set apart from other similar competitions, and it has been one of the event’s most popular features.
“We’re the only pageant in town that gives everyone a crown and usually other gifts, too,” Hasting said.
Any girl or woman between the ages of 2 and 19 can enter the pageant, regardless of experience or geographical boundaries. There are 20 contestants in each age group.
“Many of the categories were full after the very first sign-up,” Hasting said.
The contestants are judged on stage presence, beauty and confidence. Contestants who are 5 or older also are judged on their answers to the emcee’s questions.
There are three winners in each age group: Queen, First Maid and People’s Choice. The queens and first maids keep their crown and sash, and then participate in various community events throughout the year, such as the Blueberry Festival, Relay for Life, the Christmas Parade and the Grand Parade at the Florida Strawberry Festival.
Each year, the pageant has been complemented by a silent auction and other fundraising events to help a local cause. This year’s event will benefit Fierce Athletics, a Plant City nonprofit organization that helps girls and young women pay for athletic programs that they might not be able to afford otherwise.
“We want to boost confidence,” Hasting said. “We want every girl to feel that if they can walk across that stage to be judged, then they deserve something.”
THE CONTESTANTS
The contestants for Miss Blueberry Queen include:
Hailey Blount
Faith Behanna
Emily Gagnon
Kelsey Howard
Ellie Shouse
Chloe Tew
Amaiah Williams
IF YOU GO
Blueberry Pageant
WHEN: All day March 21. Ages 2 to 6 will compete from 9:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., and ages 7 to 19 will compete throughout the rest of the afternoon.
WHERE: Keel and Curley Winery, 5210 Thonotosassa Road.
DETAILS: Any girl or woman between the ages of 2 and 19 can enter the pageant, regardless of experience or geographical boundaries. There are 20 contestants in each age group.
COST: $10 to attend
INFO: (813) 752-9100
Contact Catherine Sinclair at csinclair@plantcityobserver.com.
