The newest member of Dowagiac’s royal sisterhood will be crowned later this month, as the Miss Dowagiac Scholarship Pageant hosts its 76th ceremony on Jan. 24.

Over the next several weeks, the Dowagiac Daily News will feature the profiles of the 12 ladies vying for the crown.

This year’s pageant will begin at 7 p.m. inside the Dowagiac Middle School Performing Arts Center.

Tickets for the event are available inside the office of the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce, inside the Dowagiac train depot.

Next is contestant number seven:

Name: Drewzella Andrade

Age: 17

Height: 5’0

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Parents/Guardians: Connie and Rudy Andrade

Brothers: Robert, Age 22 and Adolfo, age 26

School Attending: Dowagiac Union High School

Grade: 12

School Activities: Varsity soccer, Rotary Interact Club, drum-line member, pep band member

Outside Activities: Miss Kathy’s School Of Dance, tap dancer, indoor soccer

Interest and Hobbies: Playing soccer, making jigsaw puzzles, playing piano

Awards and Honors: Co-President of Rotary Interact, Honors

Three words that describe you: Determined, happy, courageous

What are your ambitions and plans after graduation? My ambitions and plans after graduation is to go to school at Michigan State University to study criminal justice.

What is your greatest accomplishment(s)? My greatest accomplishment is being be able to help people in need; it’s all my grandmother ever taught me. Such as being in the club Rotary Interact Club.

Why did you decide to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac? I decided to compete for the title of Miss Dowagiac 2015 not only to be with friends and make new ones but also because I wanted to represent my diversity to the competition.