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CROWNING MOMENT WRITER: JAMES COMBS PHOTOS: FRED LOPEZ
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right lights shine down on the stage of the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The inal two contestants— Miss University of Florida Mary Katherine Fechtel and Miss Orlando Kelsey Beck—tightly hold each other’s hands as the crowd buzzes with excitement and the drumroll rumbles. They’re vying for the prestigious title of Miss Florida 2015. Several weeks of intense preparation is coming down to this exciting moment. For one of these ladies, her life is about to be forever changed. And, the title goes to Lake County’s own Mary Katherine Fechtel. Rather than gloat in victory, Mary Katherine embraced Kelsey, her eyes illed with genuine joy. There was nothing cutthroat about this competition because these lovely women viewed each other as
friends rather than ierce opponents. During the competition, Mary Katherine danced to Beyonce’s “Listen,” walked elegantly across the stage in an evening gown and answered an onstage question about environmental issues. But that special moment sharing the stage with Kelsey is what she cherishes most from the pageant—even more than being crowned or taking a victory walk down the runway. The two met about one year ago and formed an immediate bond. “On Sunday night when we were in rehearsals, Kelsey looked at me and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be special if you and I were the winner and irst runner-up?’ That’s exactly how it turned out. Being up there onstage and holding her hand was an awesome experience. We were both elated that one of us was going to be the next Miss Florida.”
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