What made you want to go out for the pageant?
L- Growing up in this town — this is all I’ve ever known, I’ve grown up here — you hear about the experience of what the Strawberry Queen and Court does and being a part of the pageant was such an amazing experience. You always hear about it, so to be a part of it and go out and do it is something I’ve always wanted to do. You realize it’s more than just a sash and a crown. It’s an experience and it’s about the people you get to meet and that really made me want to do it.
What was your first thought when your name was called?
L- You don’t really realize that you’re a part of this and you’re actually chosen to represent the festival. It really is crazy, but when my name was called I kind of stood there for a moment and thought that I didn’t hear it correctly. I was in so much shock and so honored and humbled that I got to be a part of this opportunity.
What was your
family’s reaction?
L- It was a whole year of planning kind of leading up to this one moment, so my whole family was involved in the process with me. I was the first one called out and you just saw a whole crowd of my family jump up into the air being crazy really. My older brother came down from college and he’s not really a pageant person, but that night he was texting all of my family and getting into it. They were so excited for me and proud.
Do you have a piece of advice for someone going out next year?
L- There was a piece of advice that I got from my grandmother, who is very close to me. She said, “You’re not the only one going through this. This year there’s 22 other girls in the same position you are, so go out there and be who you are and represent who you are as a person and stay true to your morals. When you’re back there in that interview, don’t be anyone else or try to be anyone else. They don’t want that, they want who you are as a person. So go out there and be confident and especially during that dance, let loose and be who you are.“
If you could pick one word to sum up your personality, what would it be?
L- I’d have to say “edgy” a little bit because I have so many different personalities. I love to go hunting, I’m very much a country girl, but I’m also a girly-girl at times. I can be a tomboy sometimes, so it’s all these different things in one.
What is your favorite place to spend an afternoon in Plant City?
L- Definitely Parkesdale is my favorite place to go. My friends and I always drive by there if we can just to pick up a milkshake on our way to somewhere else. Growing up, my mom and I would always go there and you would sit in that strawberry throne and it was kind of like a full-circle moment leading up to this. I just love going there.
Do you have a secret talent?
L- I’ve cheered my whole life, so tumbling is something I’m really good at. I can do a standing tuck, too.
What are you most excited for at the festival?
L- The festival hosts more than 500,000 people a year and we have the opportunity to meet all of those people. And I’m most excited to be able to do it with these four girls here. I will say I’ve connected with these girls so fast over the past two days. It’s just been so much fun and to have that connection with girls you’ve just met and knowing all of the experiences you’re going to be able to go through together, it’s going to be so much fun.
What band are you most looking forward to?
L- Definitely Mercy Me, hands down. It’s one of the only concerts my whole family is going to be able to go to this year, so having my entire family there is going to be a lot of fun. But when they did come out with the movie “I Can Only Imagine,” I felt such a personal connection with their story and their songs, and I’m so excited to be able to meet them.
What festival food are you most excited to eat?
L- Cheese on a stick. I love me a cheese on a stick. It’s probably the one thing I’ll ask for all the time.