University of Pikeville begins search for Miss Mountain Laurel representative
0It’s that time of year again to select a new Mountain Laurel representative. The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival (KMLF) is one of the oldest festivals, in its 84th year of rich tradition. The festival will be May 22-25, 2014, on Memorial Day weekend. The festival takes us back in time to place of Southern hospitality with Southern belles venturing through the foothills of Pineville, Ky. It is based upon the blooming of the mountain laurel flower and the winning queen is crowned with a garland of mountain laurel. Everyone in the small town of Pineville works together to make the festival memorable for all involved.
The queen candidates are treated like Southern royalty throughout their stay in Pineville. The main events of the festival take place on Saturday. The candidates participate in the annual KMLF parade in which they wear beautiful derby hats and show their true Southern style. Following the parade, the candidates go to the breathtaking Laurel Cove for the Queen coronation. The queens are spotlighted one by one and curtsy to Gov. Breshear in elegant white ball gowns and white gloves.
In 2013, UPIKE selected senior Brittany Rowe to represent the university at the 83rd annual KMLF. Rowe competed against 16 other ladies from universities and colleges throughout the state. She was selected first runner up at the festival. UPIKE has not had a representative rank this high since 1983 when Ann Victoria Phillips won the KMLF title.
UPIKE will be crowning a new queen on Feb. 15, 2014.
The university will host several events to prepare the candidates for the actual festival. The ladies will attend a tea party, take part in a community service activity, attend a soiree with former Miss UPIKE Mountain Laurel queens, as well as many other events during the spring semester.
If any female student is interested in signing up to take part in these prestigious events, please go to Student Services and talk to Jocelyn McCown, Miss UPIKE Mountain Laurel 2011. The deadline for applications is Dec. 11, the last day of finals.