Tridajia takes the tiara

Senior Tridaija Lisimba-Alvarez is this year’s winner of the Harvest Festival Princess Pageant.

Tridaija said she wanted to be in a pageant ever since she was little and watched pageants on television.

One thing that Tridaija said really inspires her to work hard and always do her best is her family, which was the main focus of her speech. She talked about her two younger brothers, her father and her grandfathers.

“They helped shape me into who I am today through music and dance,” she said, adding that family had a big impact on who she is today.

“I liked to watch my grandfather play his instruments because his appreciation and love for music is something I gained for myself,” she said.

She said she enjoys participating in choir, plays and helping with the musicals in high school. She wants to go to college for musical theatre or possibly to get her realtors license in New York, she added.

Tridaija said she hopes to be on Broadway someday. Going to college in New York opens up more real estate jobs and being in New York allows her to be closer to Broadway so she can see how the show and auditions work, she explained.

According to Tridaija, she wanted the best for everyone in the pageant. She added that she does not feel that she personally was better than anyone else.

Senior Leslie Krebs participated alongside Tridaija in the pageant. “It was one of the most fun things I’ve been able to do with her considering we’re really close friends and have performed together for quite a while,” said Leslie.

Tridaija was sponsored by the Milton Lions Club. She said she did not know anything about the club until she did some research and decided that is who she wanted to sponsor her.

Each available sponsor was listed and each candidate had a chance to pick the one they wanted to sponsor them, she said. There was an advisor along with it, so they could help everyone through with any questions they had, she added.

“They really made the Lions seem like great people,” she said. “I wanted an organization that I could really connect with, and I’m so happy that I chose them.”

Tridaija said she connected with the Lions because of how good of an organization they are.

Tridaija said she was glad she entered the pageant. Speaking and talking in front of all of those people really helps with social skills. It helps build confidence and prepares you for your future, said Tridaija.

“Walking in the heels and the dress was the most difficult thing,” she added.

Tridaija said she was concerned that COVID-19 would take away her chances of participation in the pageant. “The fact that we could still do it means everything to me,” she added.