We are now ONE WEEK away from the annual Romeo Peach Festival, so we'll take a look at one more Peach Queen of the past: Kimberly Lavely!
In 2003, the 18-year-old from Richmond was crowned with the Peach Queen title for that year. Just like 1953, we know what criticia the judges used while selecting the winner of that contest. According to an article from the May 13, 2007 issue of The Romeo Observer, the judges would ask a series of questions to each contestant. Then, they would weigh "the strengths of each girl's current schooling, extracurricular activities, career goals, and more."
In other words, the judges sought to emphasize on how each girl could be a good role model for the community.
It's not hard to see why they selected Kimberly in 2003. At that time, she was set to graduate the Romeo High School that year and planned to attend Western Michigan University to study performing arts and special education. Her extracurricular activities included figure skating, Romeo varsity track (including two years of the being the captain), the Romeo Theatre Company (both on stage and off), modeling, and community service. And if that wasn't enough, she also was the President of the Romeo National Honor Society, where she organized the Charity Ball 2003 and the winter pep assembly at Romeo High. On top of that, she "created monthly Bulldog Broadcast shown on school network and Channel 6 (producer, director, editor, anchor),...[was] chosen for IMTA (International Model and Talent Association) competition in Hollywood, Calif., [was the] winnner of American and Me writing contest, and was selected numerous years for People to People American Ambassador."
Finally, her career goal was to become a special education teacher, so she could "help those who are mentally challenged and to make a difference in their lives."
With all of that work, Kimberly deserved to be a Peach Queen. Her duties were similar to that previous Peach Queens. She promoted the Peach Festival by attending various parades and even visting Governor Jennifer Granholm and various state representatives, and senators with 2002 Peach Queen Ashleigh Beadle. Given that Granholm was the first female governor of Michigan, this had to be a special moment for both queens.
I also want to point out that Kimberly is the last non-Romeo-Washington-Bruce resident to win that title as of 2023. She was living in Richmond when she won the crown even though she and her family had only moved there from Washington Township the summer prior. Nevertheless, this brings an important aspect to the Peach Queen title, especially in the modern era. Any female can complete for the Peach Queen title as long as they live in Michigan and are between the ages of 18 and 23. So theoritcally, a girl, who lives as far away from Romeo like Ironwood, could participate.
To learn more about Kimberly Lavely, other Peach Queens, and the Peach Festival in general, you can locate the Romeo Peach Festival Collection here and/or contact the Romeo Community Archives at rca@romemodistrictlibrary.org to see said collection in person.
There will be no post next week, so have fun at the Romeo Peach Festival!
Images and sources courtesy of the Romeo Community Archives; Romeo Peach Festival Collection, 2003 and 2007