Candidates from left: Gina Pereira, Carmen Olsen and Viveka Jensen.
Mary Anne Graham, 1965 queen, was among the numerous past royalty attending this year’s pageant, which marks the 65th year of Cherry Fiesta.
Maria Dias, 1981 queen, was among the past royalty attending this year’s pageant.
Past royalty gathered on stage after each was introduced individually.
Past royalty gathered on stage after each was introduced individually.
Vivika Jensen had to answer an impromptu question. She was asked what she personally is doing to save the environment. She responded that she is recycling like everyone else.
The contestants wore colourful gowns. They offered each other support.
Members of visiting royalty and ambassador programs brought greetings from their communities. There was a large contingent from Oliver.
Miss Omak Stampede, Breanna Howell, invited the audience to attend Omak’s 80th stampede in August.
Outgoing Miss Osoyoos Madison Silvers waves goodbye to her subjects before passing on her crown.
Princess Kaitlin Anderson (white gown) and Queen Madison Silvers (blue gown) are recognized before passing on their crowns.
The outgoing queen and princess give hugs of thanks and flowers to coordinators Anne Murseli and Cathie Baskett.
Outgoing Miss Osoyoos Madison Silvers directs some words of experience and advice to the incoming royalty.
Carmen Olsen (red gown) wipes away the tears of joy on the face of new queen Gina Pereira while Madison Silvers (blue gown) prepares to hand over the crown.
Madison Silvers places her crown on the head of new queen Gina Pereira.
Madison Silvers places her crown on the head of new queen Gina Pereira.
Madison Silvers helps new queen Gina Pereira get back on her feet after the coronation.
Outgoing Miss Osoyoos Madison Silvers hands a bouquet of flowers to new queen Gina Pereira.
Outgoing princess Kaitlin Anderson crowns new princess Viveka Jensen.
Outgoing princess Kaitlin Anderson crowns new princess Carmen Olsen.
Outgoing princess Kaitlin Anderson and outgoing queen Madison Silvers give flowers to new princess Carmen Olsen.
Mayor Stu Well administers the oath of office to the new royalty. The wording was similar to the oaths councillors take, with a few small changes.
Members of visiting royalty gathered on stage with the Osoyoos royalty at the end of the pageant.
The new Osoyoos royalty are (from left) Carmen Olsen (princess), Gina Pereira (queen) and Viveka Jensen (princess).
There were colourful dresses and tears aplenty as the Osoyoos Royalty changed hands and Gina Pereira was crowned queen Sunday night.
The Miss Osoyoos Royalty Pageant was a special affair this year to mark 65 years of the Cherry Fiesta. Numerous past royalty from as early as the 1950s attended, with former queens and princesses individually introduced while images from their reigns were projected on an overhead screen.
Emotions were high both for the outgoing royalty of Queen Madison Silvers and Princess Kaitlin Anderson, as well as for the incoming royalty, who only learned at the end that Pereira would be crowned the new queen.
“I was so shocked and thrilled,” Pereira said of her reaction when her name was announced. “I’m overwhelmed with joy.”
Her tears of joy were certainly not the first of the night as an emotional Silvers fitted her crown onto the new queen’s head.
Pereira will represent Osoyoos at events both in Osoyoos and elsewhere and she will be assisted by two princesses, the runners up, Carmen Olsen and Viveka Jensen.
Pereira was sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, Olsen by Elks Lodge #436 and Jensen by Kemp Harvey Kemp.
Both the incoming and outgoing royalty were accompanied by their young “little buddies,” Grades 1 and 2 girls chosen at a party in March in the case of the new royals.
As well as the numerous past royalty, many royalty and ambassadors from other communities attended to bring greetings. Some sang popular songs with the words changed to promote their communities.
Osoyoos Mayor Stu Wells administered an oath of office to the girls, while MLA Linda Larson handed certificates to the new royals.
In the final judging event of their six-month process, the three contestants had to answer an impromptu question each.
Jensen had the toughest question when she was asked: “What are you personally doing to save the environment?”
After a moment’s thought, she responded that she is recycling like everybody else.
Jensen received a number of awards before the queen was announced – People’s Choice, Talent and Knowledge. Olsen won for best speaking.
BY RICHARD McGUIRE
Osoyoos Times
