At approximately 7 p.m. Saturday night, 19 young ladies will be waiting anxiously back stage for their turn to take the stage and prove why they should be crowned Jr. Miss and Miss Apple Festival. This is a feeling I know all too well.

As the 12 young ladies vying for Jr. Miss Apple Festival and seven women competing for Miss Apple Festival take the stage to show the crowd everything they’ve learned through long nights of practices during the past several weeks, I’m sure I’ll be experiencing an odd form of déjà vu. This time, though, I’ll have a unique seat: behind the judge’s table.

Six years ago this weekend, I stood nervously on stage, my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest as I stood under the same lights these girls will be standing under, awaiting anxiously the announcement of the newest set of queens in the Miss Apple Festival pageant.

I remember hearing from my twin sister, Jasmine, first runner-up to Miss Apple Festival 2007 — who incidentally crowned me first runner-up to Miss Apple Festival 2008 — what a great experience this was for her, but I never anticipated what a great adventure it would be, and how much it would prepare me for other challenges in life that would follow.

People who have known me the majority of my life are apt to tell you that I was always the quiet twin, so shy you could barely hear me in the rare occurrences that I contributed to conversation.

Participating in the Miss Apple Festival pageant took me completely out of my comfort zone. It was the first time I had been interviewed, the first time I was ever alone on stage, the first time I had to quickly come up with an educated answer in front of a room full of people.

This year, I am so excited to experience this opportunity on the other side of the table as I watch 12 Junior Miss Apple Festival contestants show of their personalities and passions.

This is such a wonderful opportunity for everyone involved, those who receive crowns and those who do not.

I may be out of the spotlight this time around, but I’m almost certain my job in this pageant will be a bit more challenging than the last time around. Judging by the mini-biographies running in the Niles Daily Star during the past few weeks, myself and the other two judges have our work cut for us. I’m very excited to get to know these lovely young ladies and watch them shine on stage.

I wish the best of luck to all of the contestants, and a happy opening weekend to the hardworking organizers of the 42nd Annual Four Flags Area Apple Festival.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.