The Junior Orange Bowl celebrated a night of glamour and royalty as the 2013-2014 Junior Orange Bowl Royal Court was crowned at the Rebeca Sosa Theatre in Miami Springs on Saturday. Camilia Romero, a 7th grader from Somerset Academy, was crowned as the 62nd Junior Orange Bowl Queen. Joining Queen Camilia are Princesses Skyler Odin, an 8th grade student at David Lawrence Jr K-8, and Alexis Santana, a 7th grade Florida Virtual Home School student.
A new addition to the Royal Court this year is the Little Sister title. This title is awarded to an 11 year old who will have the opportunity to gain the experience and confidence that will prepare her to become Junior Orange Bowl Queen or Princess for the following festival season. This year’s Little Sister is Celine Alvarez from South Miami K-8.
The Royal Court will serve as volunteers and goodwill ambassadors at all of the 2013-2014 Junior Orange Bowl Festival events.
The Queen and Princesses will also ride on The Royal Court Float at the most anticipated 65th Junior Orange Bowl Parade on Miracle Mile in downtown Coral Gables. All girls that participated in the search will be invited to The Queens Ball on January 3 at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables.
“I am extremely proud of all of the girls that will be our ambassadors for the year. They are bright, accomplished and beautiful representatives”, says Isa Goenaga, chair of the Junior Orange Bowl Royal Court Committee. “The girls embody the characteristics of what the Royal Court represents; leadership, confidence and a love for their community”.
The Queen, Princesses and Little Sister are chosen based on personality, poise, and their desire to be involved in their community. “We had a wonderful group of girls that competed this year and it was tough for the judges to single out these few but we are very proud of the 2013-2014 Royal Court” says Goenaga.
This year’s judges included Mark Trowbridge, CEO of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Andria Hanley, Executive Director of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Ruth Paul, Vice-Chair of the Anthony Dejuan Boatwright Foundation, and Carroll-Lynn Willgren, Owner and CEO of the public relations firm High Intensity Productions LLC.
The first ever Miss Junior Orange Bowl, for young ladies ages 18-26, was crowned as well. Meghan Orsley won the Miss Junior Orange Bowl title and will go on to represent the Junior Orange Bowl at the Miss Florida USA competition in July.
The Junior Orange Bowl is set to begin its 65th “Diamond Jubilee” Anniversary Festival Season. The 2013-2014 Festival will consist of over 15 athletic, academic, and cultural events for youths featuring the Junior Orange Bowl Parade through downtown Coral Gables. All of the Junior Orange Bowl festival events are produced entirely by volunteers. To learn how to become part of the Junior Orange Bowl team, call 305-662-1210 or email jobc@jrorangebowl.org.
The Junior Orange Bowl Festival is possible with the support of the City of Coral Gables, Miami Children’s Hospital, The Orange Bowl Committee, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Tourist Development Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor, and Board of County Commissioners.The Junior Orange Bowl Committee, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization that serves the community of South Florida and the Youth of the world by providing opportunities for wholesome, competitive and multicultural experiences.
For more information on the Junior Orange Bowl, please contact 305- 662-1210 or visit our website at www.jrorangebowl.org.
