Natalia Mills was selected to represent Williamsport Area High School at the Flaming Foliage Festival this year. Mills was escorted by Deacon Brown.
Flaming Foliage is a 3-day festival held each fall in Renovo, PA. The event includes arts and crafts, a parade, and the coronation ceremony.
Nominees are selected by their schools based on criteria such as character, poise, and communication skills. At the festival, a panel of judges selects a winner, runner-up and second runner-up. The winners receive a $500, $300, and $200 scholarship, respectively. The committee also names a Miss Congeniality and a Miss Photogenic. They also select a Mr. Congeniality and Mr. Photogenic from the group of escorts.
At the event, the queens and escorts attend the Queen Luncheon and the Queen Banquet where they meet the judges and other participants. Then after a long day, they all attend the Queen’s Ball. On Saturday, there is a Parade of Queens, followed by the coronation ceremony. This year the parade and coronation was postponed until Sunday due to rain.
The winners were selected based on their performance in an interview and during the parade. During the interview process, the judges asked the queens about details the girls included on the summary they provided about themselves, such as involvement in sports, clubs, and activities.
“They also asked about my family,” explained Mills. Then they asked if I could be famous for anything, what would it be and why.”
“The judges sat at a table at the end of the parade, so it was important to be poised when you passed them,” Mills added.
The escorts also participated in an interview session. “You got to choose from three different questions,” explained Brown. “They were, describe your perfect girl, what is your favorite car, or what would be your ideal date.”
“I chose the easiest question, describe your perfect girl,” Brown said.
The students stayed with host families for the weekend. “They were really nice, both of our families were,” Mills said.
Mills earned second runner-up and Brown was named co-Mr. Congeniality at this year’s event.
