TRAVERSE CITY -- Four candidates are vying to be the 2008 National Cherry Festival Queen, but reigning queen Danielle Moss won't venture a guess as to who'll be crowned tonight.
"Cherry queens do not predict. I'm just glad I am not a judge," Moss said. "Each girl has different qualities they would bring to the Cherry Festival if they win. It just depends on what the individual judges are looking for."
The field of queen candidates recently was trimmed from 19 to 4 young women, and this week finalists have been secretly judged as they make various public appearances during the festival.
Six judges will rate candidates on qualities ranging from public speaking to public relations during three events, said Kay Relyea, co-coordinator of queen's activities.
Queen hopefuls won't know judges' identities or at which events they will be observed. They will also undergo two interview sessions.
The four finalists include:
-- Megan Umulis, of Lake Ann, who appears to have cherries in her blood. Her uncle had cherry orchards as she was growing up and her mother has bottled her own line of cherry products.
Umulis and her brother spend many weekends promoting their mother's line at festivals and special events around Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. Marketing is her ultimate career goal, and she works at Castle Farms in Charlevoix as corporate events coordinator.
"To me, it's not just a title. I am already representing the cherry industry and I want to see what we can do to further promote the health benefits of cherries and the progression of the industry," Umulis said.
-- Jacqueline Pruder, of Standish, is no stranger to scholarship competitions like the Cherry Festival. She served on the Michigan Sugar Court in 2006, and that experience drew her to the Cherry Festival.
The industry's claims of cherries' health benefits are an important part of the cherry message, but what speaks to Pruder more is the community involvement the festival exemplifies. The industry also provides much-needed jobs and economic benefits that should be promoted, she said.
"People should come here for the community. It's not just about the festival, it's about what the festival and the industry does for the people."
-- Maria LaCross, of Cedar, did not have to look far to glean advice from former cherry royalty before entering the competition. Her aunt, Cindy (Pleva) Weber, was 1987's Cherry Queen, and her sister-in-law, Kelsey (Hewitt) LaCross, was crowned in 2002.
"I watched them go through it and they encouraged me to do it. They told me what a positive experience it was. This is something I have never done before and it has helped me stretch myself as a person," Cross said.
She has enjoyed trying new things, like salsa dancing, and seeing events she hadn't previously attended, like the pie-eating contest. But people are by far the most rewarding part of her festival week.
"I like meeting and getting to talk to everyone. Learning why they come to the area is interesting, and of course I try to encourage them to keep coming. It's interesting to see what draws them here," she said.
-- Brooke Keiser, of Bellaire, drew inspiration from past queens and took classes in public speaking and other relevant subjects to prepare herself for this year's competition.
Keiser had an idea what to expect because she served on Miss Bellaire's court in 2006, but she also learned a great deal during the selection process and made new relationships with the other contestants.
"Becoming a family with the other girls has been amazing," she said. "Also seeing the little girls look up to you in the crown and the sash. You understand how important it is to be a good role model for them. I hope I am being a positive role model."
Keiser said the experience was rewarding because it increased her confidence.
"I was so self-conscious, but now I feel like I can open up and have grown so much. It's been amazing."
The winner will be crowned at the Queen's Coronation Ball and Royale Gala held at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa from 7 to 10 p.m. tonight.
National Cherry Festival
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