Alexandra (Allie) Watkins, First Maid
Allie is the daughter of Michael and Heather Watkins. She is a junior at Plant City High School and plans to attend Southeastern University to pursue a degree in Fashion Design upon graduation. Allie enjoys making her own clothes, and even made her own homecoming dress this year! She is also an avid surfer, and spends lots of time with her family at the beach.
The hardest part of getting ready for the competition for Allie was preparing for the interview. She felt it was pretty hard and really stressful the first couple of times, but then once she got the hang of it, things got easier and easier. Allie also had to change a few of her habits, because, as a “surfer chic” she doesn’t wear a lot of makeup or spend a huge amount of time on her hair. Allie’s older sister Ashley was Strawberry Queen in 2005, and she and the family have been a huge support to Allie this year. “Ashley was a big help,” she commented. “She told me it would be hard and I would have to work for it, but if I got it, it would be worth it. She was always encouraging me and telling me to make sure my reasons for running were pure and right. She helped me get in the right mindset.” Allie is very excited about the Strawberry Festival, much like her reaction to being included in the Court. “It’s just disbelief, because you worked so hard for so long and your muscles are so tense and then finally you’re done and it’s over and you almost explode out the top!” she exclaimed.
Tara Parker, Court
Tara is the daughter of Johnny and Roxie Parker, a sophomore at HCC and plans to transfer to USF to further her degree in Mass Communications. She likes to be with her family and her friends, who are her number one support group. She’s also an ambassador for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Last year she registered to go out for Strawberry Queen and then a week after registration she was called for a liver and a pancreas transplant, so she wasn’t able to participate. This year she believes it was just the right timing and in God’s plan.
“My papa was probably my biggest supporter,” Tara laughed. “We gave him a button to wear to the pageant, and he wanted more buttons to pass around to everyone he knew!” Tara is excited about building good friendships with the rest of the girls, and being out into the community and getting to know everyone who makes Plant City a success.
MacKenzie Clark, Court, Miss Congeniality
MacKenzie is the daughter of Robert Clark and Hollie Clark. She is a sophomore at USF and HCC, majoring in Broadcasting. MacKenzie most enjoys being with family and friends, and playing golf and soccer. Running for Strawberry Queen was a completely new experience for her, and her biggest challenge was to make her answers precise, instead of continuing on in a run-on fashion.
“My mom has been the most support ever,” MacKenzie enthused. “She’s always been there. She goes with me to buy my outfits. She’s given me my background and has showed me how to hold good morals and be a great leader so I can represent Plant City well.” MacKenzie is most excited about being able to meet new people and learning not only how to answer questions but also being able to ask good questions, as well. “I was excited and overwhelmed when they called me out for the top five. I don’t know how to explain it. I was the last one called for the top 10 and then I was the last one called for the top 5, so I was like, come on, I worked so hard!” MacKenzie remembers watching the Strawberry Queen and thinking that she wanted to be pretty like that one day so people would look up to her. Now she has the chance to experience the court sensation herself!
Kyndle Hampton, Court
Kyndle is the daughter of Chris and Kim Hampton. She is a senior at Plant City High School and plans to attend USF upon graduation and major in Elementary Education.
Kyndle enjoys cooking and eating. She has recently found a great recipe for strawberry cookies, and has been making those a lot lately. She felt the hardest part of the competition was the interview, and seemed to have it in her head that it would be horrible! She credits her parents for their support of everything she’s done. When she realized she made the top five, her first thought was “Yes!” She recalls being incredibly excited to hear her number called. Kyndle placed in the Baby Parade when she was younger, and she saw the Strawberry Queen then. “I was so excited to meet her and get my picture taken with her. I wanted to be a part of the court so I could pass those kinds of memories on to other little girls, just like the 1993 Strawberry Queen did with me, and now I’m happy to have the opportunity to do that!”
“It’s just something I’ve always looked forward to, being a role model for little girls and getting to know our community better,” she commented. “I had many friends who had done it and I knew how great it was for them, and I just knew it would be something I would enjoy and really remember for a long time.”
FOCUS PLANT CITY EDITION • February 15, 2007 - March 15, 2007 • PG 51