Gilroy High School senior Aisha Zaza was crowned Garlic Queen in
May. However, beating out seven other contestants for the title was
just part of the competition
– the queen and her court have attended numerous events since
the pageant.
Gilroy – Gilroy High School senior Aisha Zaza was crowned Garlic Queen in May. However, beating out seven other contestants for the title was just part of the competition – the queen and her court have attended numerous events since the pageant.
They will make their final group appearance at the Garlic Festival July 29 to 31, before Zaza heads off to one of Gilroy’s six sister cities Takko–Machi, Japan in the fall to participate in the Takko Garlic and Beef Festival.
“The Garlic Festival is tradition … I’ve gone to it for as long as I remember,” said Zaza, who was born and raised in the city.
But this year will be different for her – she will be representing the city at the festival as the Garlic Queen.
Zaza knew she wanted to go after the crown when she was 16, and attended the pageant where an older friend was competing for the title.
“I thought, I can’t wait to be old enough to do that. Every year I waited … and this was the year,” she said.
The pageant is a talent competition that began 27 years ago, with the winner serving as a goodwill ambassador for Gilroy and its surrounding communities.
Contestants rehearse together one month before the competition, spending six hours a week singing, dancing and forming friendships with one another.
“I met these wonderful girls that I’ll always be friends with,” said first runner up, Trisha Motter after the pageant. “I was going into (the pageant) to have an experience of a lifetime. And that’s exactly what it was.”
In some cases, such as this year’s Garlic Festival President Jennifer Speno, contestants return for another opportunity to give back to the community. Speno served as queen in 1987, and after years of volunteering, returned this year to serve as the Garlic Festival President.
Competitors must be between the ages of 18 and 24 and live within the Gilroy, Hollister, and Morgan Hill communities.
They are judged 40 percent on personal interviews, and 20 percent on the talent, speech, and formal wear portions of the contest.
Winners were awarded about $5,000 in total scholarship money from more than 12 local businesses and individuals.
Zaza and her court made pre–festival appearances at events such as the Gilroy Garlic Fun Run and at the Fourth of July activities in Morgan Hill.
However, the importance of being queens of the clove comes to a head during Gilroy’s annual Garlic Festival, where the queen and her court meet and greet visitors during the event.
They work from 6m Friday to the close of the festival Sunday.
“They put in long hours,” said pageant chairperson Kim Lemos.
Members of Zaza’s court include fellow GHS senior Stephanie Orth and first runner up Trisha Motter of Morgan Hill, Elissa Archuleta, Marliz Copado, Cherise Gowan, Noelle Huerta and Argyrie Vazquez.
According to Lemos, the girls should be wearing similar outfits and donning their crowns and tiaras at the festival.
“The entourage is easy to spot,” she said.
