Be queen for a year. The 2011 Strawberry Queen Contest, put on by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau, is now accepting entries.
The contest allows local girls the opportunity to vie for the crown while earning scholarship money and supporting their community.
To participate, each girl must sell as many prize drawing tickets as possible through April 15.
The top honor of 2011 Strawberry Queen will be awarded to the girl who sells the most tickets. In addition to receiving the coveted crown and sash, the queen will win a cash prize and make appearances throughout the year at community events, including at the Strawberry Festival that follows. Two runners-up will be crowned first and second princesses. Other honors will be given for the contestants who are deemed Most Photogenic, Best Personality, and Best Dressed.
Registration is open to girls ages 5 to 18. To register, visit the Chamber office at 614 S. Broadway, provide some basic information, and submit a photo.
Winners will be announced at the 2011 Strawberry Queen Pageant to be held on April 29 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark Park Plaza. Winners of the cash drawing will also be awarded at the event.
This article appears in Mar 24-31, 2011.