Eight made the cut. One will win the crown. Meet your 2012 Gilroy Garlic Queen contestants – in no particular order.
Each year to coincide with Gilroy’s famous Garlic Festival (this summer will be the 34th), the Garlic Festival Association touts a Garlic Queen scholarship and contest for young local women.
This year, they will award $10,000 for first place, as they did for the first time in 2011 to Garlic Queen Tiffani Petersen. The donation is on behalf of Christopher Ranch.
The Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Queen Pageant is a scholarship-driven competition that judges contestants on a personal interview, speech, talent and evening gown.
In addition to the honorary titles of queen, first and second runner-up, a number of scholarships will also be awarded to pageant contestants.
Applicants must be a resident of Gilroy, San Martin, Morgan Hill, Hollister, San Juan Bautista or Aromas; a single female who has never been married and has no children; a high school graduate by June 2012; and between the ages of 18 and 24 by July 2012.
The Miss Gilroy Garlic Festival Pageant is scheduled for 4 p.m. March 31 at the Gavilan College Theater, located at 5055 Santa Teresa Blvd. in Gilroy.
Meet the proud contestants:
Heather Brodersen
Age: 20; School: Gavilan Community College
Speech: “Garlic Down Under”
Talent: Flute Performance
Melissa Davis
Age: 20
School: Gavilan Community College
Speech: “Garlic Marks the Spot”
Talent: Vocal Performance
Juliana Vanni
Age: 18; School: Christopher High School
Speech: “Garlic Idol”
Talent: Martial Arts Performance
Heather Saenz
Age: 23
School: Graduate of Mt. Holyoke College
Speech: “Garlic-ista”
Talent: Dance Performance
Brandi Callanta
Age: 20
School: Gavilan Community College
Speech: “Princess and the Garlic”
Talent: Speed Painting Performance
Olivia Echeverria
Age: 21
School: Graduate of Bethany University
Speech: “Fresh Clove of Gilroy”
Talent: Guitar and Vocal Performance
Sara Wittry
Age: 18
School: Dr. TJ Owens Gilroy Early College Academy
Speech: “Extra Extra”
Talent: Bo Staff Performance
Julia Brewka
Age: 20; School: University of San Francisco
Speech: “iGarlic”
Talent: Vocal Performance
