Gilroy’s world-famous Garlic Festival is still more than four
months away, but seven local young women are already caught up in
the pageantry. They’re hoping to earn the title of Miss Gilroy
Garlic Festival Queen, an honor that’s coincided with the festival
since the three-day event began in 1979.
Gilroy’s world-famous Garlic Festival is still more than four months away, but seven local young women are already caught up in the pageantry.
They’re hoping to earn the title of Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen, an honor that’s coincided with the festival since the three-day event began in 1979.
The pageant will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at the Gavilan College Theater. The Gilroy Garlic Festival will be July 29-31 at Christmas Hill Park.
The pageant winner will receive $1,000 cash and gifts, and will represent the Garlic Festival Association in press, radio, television, and stage appearances without fee to promote and publicize the festival.
Pageant Chair Alannah Radtke also announced Wednesday that Christopher Ranch would be giving a $2,500 scholarship to the pageant winner.
Contestants must reside in Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas, and must plan to be available for travel and appearances during her yearlong reign. They must be high school graduates and between the ages of 18 and 24 by July 29, the start of the festival.
All contestants must be unmarried, have never been married and have no children.
Participants cannot hold a title from another pageant and winners cannot participate in any other pageant during the next year.
During the pageant, contestants also must give a two-minute speech about garlic.
2011 Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen contestants:
Tiffani Peterson
Age: 20
City: Gilroy
School: Gavilan College
Talent: rifle routine
Melissa Davis
Age: 19
City: Gilroy
School: Gavilan College
Talent: vocal performance
Heather Broderson
Age: 18
City: Gilroy
School: Gavilan College
Talent: piano performance
Stephanie Marquez
Age: 20
City: Gilroy
Gavilan College
Jazz Dance Performance
Megan Griffin
Age: 17
City: Morgan Hill
School: Archbishop Mitty High School
Talent: vocal performance
Toni Eves
Age: 21
City: Gilroy
School: Foothill Junior College
Talent: tap dance performance
Alexis Guiza
Age: 17
City: Hollister
School: San Benito High School
Talent: vocal performance
