GALLERY: Blossomtime 2019
Published 9:48 am Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Miss Spirit, Maya Schuhknecht, is crowned Miss Congeniality. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Niles, Aliea Bakerson. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Buchanan, Emily Riley, made the top 10 during the Miss Blossomtime 2019 festival Monday night. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Blossomtime 2018 shares her favorite memory of being queen for the past year and a half. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Heart, Natalie Davis. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Cassopolis, Kerith Spake. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Edwardsburg, Carlee Burger, of Dowagiac, walks the stage. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Bridgman, Krystin Buist, is crowned second runner-up. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Three Oaks/River Valley, Claudia Moore, crowned first runner-up. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
The 2018 Blossomtime court reflects on its year of royalty. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss Bangor, Olivia Ellis, is crowned Miss Blossomtime 2019. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
Miss South Haven, Elizabeth Johnson, shows off her gown. (Leader photo/EMILY SOBECKI)
BENTON HARBOR — Monday night, young women from all over southwest Michigan competed for the title of Miss Blossomtime.
Buchanan High School senior Maya Schuhknecht was crowned Miss Congeniality during the Miss Blossomtime scholarship pageant at Lake Michigan College’s Mendel Center in Benton Harbor.
Crowned alongside her were Miss Blossomtime Olivia Ellis, of Bangor; first runner-up Claudia Moore, of Three Oaks/River Valley and second runner-up Krystin Buist, of Bridgman.
Blossomtime is an annual tradition where local queens compete for the title of Miss Blossomtime. This year, there were 23 contenders for the title. Youth who compete take part in a dance, interview with judges, answer an on-stage question and seek to display poise and grace in their gowns.
Schuhknecht is the daughter of Michael and Jennifer Schuhknecht. She was awarded the first runner-up title in the Miss Buchanan pageant in December. After earning the title, she went on to claim the Miss Spirit title in January.
At her high school, Schuhknecht is the student council president and student body office president. She also takes part in the Herd, a Buchanan High School spirit club, varsity tennis and basketball and art and Spanish club, to name a few of her extracurricular activities. Following graduation, Schuhknecht intends to pursue a degree in graphic design and creative advertising at Michigan State University.
Photos by Emily Sobecki
