Texas Citrus Fiesta names Princess Anna, court
Eight young ladies competed Saturday for the title of Princess Anna, continuing a Texas Citrus Fiesta tradition that has existed more than 60 years.
In the end, 6-year-old Ariana Nicole Gomez was named the 66th Princess Anna. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Luis Marcos Gomez, Ariana attends Escobar Rios Elementary School in Mission.
Ariana was confident at the competition, held at the Mission Community Center, strutting the makeshift runway and stopping to smile for the judges before taking the stage to bow before Queen Citrianna, Rachel Tunberg. The princess wore an organza dress with coral swirls and rhinestone-covered Mary Jane shoes.
The rest of the court includes Madeline Lesa-Lovelle Flowers, named Princess of Red Grapefruit Blossom; Amarissa Magali Castillo, Princess of Lime Blossom; Alanai Celest Rivera, Princess of Tangerine Blossom; Lillian Yvette Garza, Princess of Lemon Blossom.
The 6-year-olds are the youngest members of the Texas Citrus Fiesta Royal Court. They’ll be honored in the 2016 festivities, and over the next year, they’ll represent the Texas Citrus Fiesta across the state at parades, representing the Valley’s citrus industry.
Madeline is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T.J. Flowers and is a first-grader at Milam Elementary. Amarissa is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cesar Castillo and is a kindergartener at Cavazos Elementary School. Alanai is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Eduardo Rivera and is a first-grader at John H. Shary Elementary. Lillian is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leopoldo Garza and is a first-grader at Bryan Elementary School.
Other contestants were Zoe Juliana De Leon, a kindergartener at Hendricks Elementary School was named first alternate; Cassity Faythe Williams, a first-grader at Bryan Elementary School who was named second alternate; Ella Grace Hartzog, a first-grader at Milam Elementary School who was named third alternate.
