 Michaela McLean, of Clermont, sponsored by Pro Citrus Network, was crowned the new 2019 Miss Florida Citrus and Juliana Fray, of Tampa, sponsored by Straughn & Turner, P.A., was crowned the new Miss Winter Haven at Polk State College’s Fine Arts Theatre in Winter Haven, Fla. on March 23, 2019. Hosted by David Lang, of Regalia Magnificent Apparel, the Miss America preliminary pageant contestants were judged on their Personal Interview, Evening Wear/On Stage Question, Talent and Swimsuit, with over $3,000 in cash and prizes awarded to the top five finalists. Both titleholders will go on to compete in the Miss Florida Pageant, which takes place in Lakeland June 25—June 29, 2019, the winner of which will compete in the Miss America pageant. Michaela McLean’s family roots in the Florida citrus industry run deep. As an 8th generation Floridian and a part of fourth generation citrus growers in the family, Michaela has grown up around citrus her entire life. Her dad, Ben McLean III, holds a master’s degree in fruit crops from the University of Florida and has served as a board member of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation for the past eight years. Michaela’s uncle, Matt McLean, is the founder of Clermont-based Uncle Matt’s Organic, the nation’s best-selling organic orange and grapefruit juice, while her grandfather, Benny McLean, is also a UF grad and was named “Organic Farmer of the Year” in 2016.
For the past several years, Michaela has worked the U-Pick store for McLean Family Farms in springtime, while sending out fresh organic citrus gift fruit during the holidays. She was the 2015 Miss Florida Outstanding Teen and placed in the Top 10 at the 2015 Miss America Outstanding Teen Pageant. In May 2019, the 21-year old will graduate from the University of Alabama with a double major in dance and public relations. She is the co-founder of Brave and Beautiful, LLC, which empowers women to live, love, and lead courageously. During her spring break this year, she taught dance in orphanages and brought the message of Brave and Beautiful into schools and churches in the Dominican Republic. For her talent, Michaela performed a lyrical dance to the song, “This Is Me,” from the movie The Greatest Showman. From Pittsfield, Ill., Juliana Fray is a 20-year old Sophomore at the University of Tampa (UT), where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, while also minoring in Law, Justice and Advocacy. She hopes to go on to obtain a PhD in Political Science and a career in Campaign Management, and kickstarted her career plans by interning with Blue Ticket Consulting in St. Petersburg, Fla. for the 2018 Midterm Elections. Fray’s career plans also double as her platform, “Your Vote, Your Voice,” which encourages youth voters to perform their civic duty and vote, as well as become educated voters to facilitate discussion and participate in public discourse. Fray also stays active as a Student Assistant in the UT Registrar’s Office and is a sister in the Delta Beta Chapter of the Delta Zeta Sorority. For her talent, she performed a musical theater dance to the song “I’m the Greatest Star,” by Barbra Streisand. The Florida Citrus Queen Pageant began in 1924 and has been part of the Miss America Organization off and on throughout the years, with the name changing to Miss Florida Citrus in 1984. Miss Winter Haven was added to the program last year. For more information or to schedule an appearance, please contact Executive Director, Brenda Eubanks Burnette at (561) 351-4314 or [email protected].
1 Comment
Joyce Ede
9/30/2019 07:50:55 pm
Proud to have these BEAUTIFUL and SPECIAL young women represent FLORIDA.😇😇😇 Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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