Five Sarasota Area Women Set to Compete for Miss Florida Title
Pageant Winner to Represent Florida at the 2017 Miss America Pageant
Lakeland, FL (June 14, 2016) – Forty-eight preliminary pageant winners from across Florida will be competing in the 81st Miss Florida Scholarship Pageant beginning June 26 at the Lakeland Center’s Youkey Theatre in Lakeland, FL.
The Miss Florida Pageant is a preliminary competition to the Miss America Pageant, which is the world’s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women and one of nation’s largest achievement programs. On July 2 the newly crowned Miss Florida will be named and she will represent the Florida at the 2017 Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, and will travel the state promoting her personal platform. Miss Florida also serves as a state ambassador for Miss America’s national platform partner, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and as an official spokesperson for protection and preservation of America’s Everglades.
MaryKatherine Fechtel, Miss Florida 2015, won her title last June when she competed with forty-seven other young women for the opportunity to represent the Sunshine State. MaryKatherine competed in the 2016 Miss America Pageant and she was named a Top Ten Finalist and Preliminary Swimsuit winner receiving an additional $8,000 in scholarships.
Forty-eight preliminary pageants have been held across the state since November, with the winners receiving a coveted invitation to compete for the Miss Florida Crown. The following are the local contestants that will compete in Lakeland, FL on June 28-July 2:
Sadie Montanus Bradenton, FL Miss DeSoto Heritage Festival
Jercoiya Waiters Bradenton, FL Miss South Tampa
Samantha Hyatt Lakewood Ranch, FL Miss Central Florida
Lauren Nielsen Sarasota, FL Miss Pasco County Fair
Taylor Pohl Wauchula, FL Miss Imperial Polk County
Schedule of Events:
Meet the Contestants Event
Saturday 6/25 – 11:00 a.m.
Miss Florida Preliminary Competitions
Tuesday 6/28, Wednesday 6/29, Thursday 6/30 – 7:30 p.m.
Miss Florida and Miss Florida Outstanding Teen Final Competitions
Saturday 7/2 4:00 p.m. Miss Florida Outstanding Teen Finals
8:00 p.m. Miss Florida Finals
