NORTH WEBSTER - One of the final events to conclude the 77th Mermaid Festival in North Webster is the Queen of the Lakes Pageant.
This year, 18 women between the ages of 15 and 22 are competing for the title and the scholarship money that comes with it from The Shoops Sports and Youth Foundation Inc. The Lady Lions provide a community service award and a Miss Congeniality Award.
Sponsored by the North Webster Lady Lions, the pageant each year is open to women ages 15 to 23. This year, it will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 24 in the North Webster Community Center.
As a requirement, each of the participants also must be in the Mermaid Festival parade, which kicks off at about 4 p.m. Saturday.
The 2022 Queen of the Lakes was Jordan Hofmann, then 20, of Andrews, who competed as Miss Wawasee Lake. The daughter of David Hofmann and the late Ellen Hackett, her sponsor was Johnson Tax Service.
The theme this year for the Mermaid Festival is “Life is Better in North Webster.”
Photos of the queen contestants courtesy of Corie Strong Photography.
Contestants (alphabetically) this year are:
• Chloe Bollinger, 17, South Whitley, daughter of Rick and Melissa Bolinger. Competing as Miss Camelot Lake, her sponsor is Pierceton Masonic Lodge #377.
• Ella Collins, 16, Warsaw, daughter of Melissa Collins. Competing as Miss Chapman Lake, her sponsor is Remax Lakes Realty - The Mark Skibowski Team.
• Abigayle Conner, 15, North Webster, daughter of Cindy Conner. Competing as Miss Tippecanoe, her sponsor is Alpha Building Center.
• Jaela Faulkner, 20, Bourbon, daughter of Joel and Justina Faulkner. Competing as Miss Hoffman Lake, her sponsor is Bourbon Lions Club.
• Gabryal “Gabby” Faurote, 15, Pierceton, daughter of Tim and Rachel Faurote. Competing as Miss Dewart Lake, her sponsor is LeeAnn Stewart School of Dance.
• Gwendolyn Frank, 16, North Webster, daughter of Chris and Rhonda Frank. Competing as Miss Center Lake, her sponsor is Clayton Garden Center.
• Zaylee Guy, 16, North Webster, daughter of Ben and Elise Guy. Competing as Miss North Webster Lake, her sponsor is Guy’s Lawn Care Inc.
• Kendell Jaress, 16, Syracuse, daughter of Aaron and Amber Jaress. Competing as Miss Syracuse Lake, her sponsor is Jaress Family Dentistry.
• Bri McBrier, 22, Rochester, daughter of Beth and Brandon McBrier. Competing as Miss Yellow Creek Lake, her sponsor is Splendor Boats.
• Emily McDonald, 21, North Webster, daughter of Jaime Ervin. Competing as Miss Winona Lake, her sponsor is Toyota Warsaw Automotive Group.
• Reagan Nichols, 21, North Webster, daughter of Brian and Tressa Nichols. Competing as Miss Barbee Lake, her sponsor is Bourbon Street Pizza.
• Alyssa Perkins, 17, Warsaw, daughter of Jenny Perkins. Competing as Miss Diamond Lake, her sponsor is Sock’s Marina.
• Kylie Perkins, 17, Warsaw, daughter of Jenny Perkins. Competing as Miss Kuhn Lake, her sponsor is Ace Hardware.
• Trinity Roberson, 16, North Webster, daughter of Jacob and Nichol Roberson. Competing as Miss Ridinger Lake, her sponsor is Tippecanoe Township.
• Anna Shock, 16, North Webster, daughter of Mike and Kelly Shock. Competing as Miss Shock Lake, her sponsor is Bart’s Water Ski Center.
• Rachel Studebaker, 16, Syracuse, daughter of Laura Studebaker. Competing as Miss Wawasee Lake, her sponsor is 3D Liquid Graphics.
• Alexis Stump, 16, Syracuse, daughter of Kerri Hartman and Doug Stump. Competing as Miss Little Tippy, her sponsor is My Red Moon Antiques & Collectibles.
• Janna Teusch, 18, Huntington, daughter of Kristine and David Teusch. Competing as Miss Sechrist Lake, her sponsor is Jill and Jennifer’s Salon.
