Brittney Souza celebrated her eighteenth birthday in style, taking the crown of the Gilroy Garlic Festival queen pageant and netting more than $7,000 in scholarships.
“I’m trying not to cry,” said a shaking Souza, as she took her place in the center of a court of princesses wearing evening gowns. “I can’t wait to represent Gilroy and be the face of Gilroy for the festival.”
In the final moments of the competition just before her name was announced, one of the queen scholarship awards changed from $3,000 to $5,000 after judge Ken Christopher, who manages Christopher Ranch, announced the company would be giving more this year.
The words were met by “wows” and applause from the audience.
After being named queen, Souza couldn’t keep back her grin and fought to keep back the tears of joy. This was her first time competing in the pageant and she barely made the age limit, as she turned 18 the day of the competition – just a few months before the festival starts.
Per festival rules, queens must be at least 18 by the day of the festival.
“Best birthday ever,” said the teenager, who described her new reign as queen as “awesome” and gave plenty of hugs, especially to her younger sister, Ali Souza, 15, who cried as they embraced on stage.
Souza knew she would participate in the pageant years ago, when her grandmother, Ginni Bono-Souza, told her about it and encouraged the youth to put her poise and more than a decade’s worth of ballet abilities to work as a contestant. Bono-Souza worked as a makeup artist in New York and was a pageant co-chair and coach back in the late 70’s when the festival was first starting out and there where no court scholarships.
“As a kid, she always told me ‘You have to do this pageant. It’d be perfect for you. You have the poise. You have the talent,’ ” explained Souza.
While Souza’s “mormor” – Norwegian for grandmother – passed away in 2007, Bono–Souza is still a big part of why Souza entered the pageant.
“She participated to honor mormor and because it’s a scholarship pageant and she really wanted to go to Chapman (University),” said Souza’s mother, Shannon.
Souza plans to head to Chapman – a private Christian university with tuition in the $42,000 range – this fall. In college, she plans to continue her ambassador work by earning a degree in peace studies and political science before pursuing a career with the United Nations.
Until then, the Christopher High School senior plays varsity volleyball and softball and holds an impressive 4.23 GPA. She has also logged 13 years of ballet practice.
In a flowing white dress, she danced a talent performance ballet solo to “Let it Go” from the Disney animated film “Frozen, ” a story that celebrates the power of sisterly love.
The bond between sisters seemed to be a theme of the evening because when Ali took the stage to congratulate her big sister all she could do was hug her and cry.
“I’m just so excited because she worked so hard,” said Ali, who noted her sister missed multiple varsity softball games – including one held the day of the pageant– to participate in the competition.
The pageant began at 4 p.m. Saturday, and was held at Gavilan College Theater.
First runner-up was returning contestant Ashley Fellows, 22, who brought home a combined $2,500 in scholarships from Christopher Ranch and the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association, plus $2,300 in scholarships that weren’t related to her position in the court. She also took the coveted Miss Congeniality title, which is chosen by pageant contestants.
Second runner-up was Vanessa Martinez, 21, who brought home $1,550 in scholarships.
A total of six young ladies between the ages of 17 and 22 competed for this year’s queen title. Contestants were judged on personal interviews, a speech, talent and their evening gown.
Personal interviews were conducted the morning of the event, leaving the afternoon for garlicky speeches, talent presentations and strutting the stage in evening gowns prior to the crowning of the court.
“I thought they were all very talented,” said Vito Mercado, the President of the 2014 Gilroy Garlic Festival. “They did very well. They’re so poised for being so young.”
Queen Brittney Souza: $5,000 Christopher Ranch, $1,000 Gilroy Garlic Festival Association
First runner-up and Miss Congeniality Ashley Fellows: $2,000 Christopher Ranch; $500 Gilroy Garlic Festival Association
Second runner-up Vanessa Martinez: $1,000 Christopher Ranch; $250 Gilroy Garlic Festival Association
Princesses Teresa Bjornson, Alexis Guiza and Vanesa Fernandez: $750 Excel Auto Body & Paint
$1,500 Past Presidents Scholarship: Ashley Fellows
$800 Franca Barsi Miss Gilroy Garlic 1986 Memorial Scholarship: Ashley Fellows
$650 Past Queens Scholarship: Brittney Souza
$500 OLAM Scholarship: Brittney Souza
$500 Founding Fathers Scholarship: Brittney Souza
$250 El Camino Packing, Inc. Scholarship: Vanessa Martinez
$250 Debbie Corona & Diane Baty Realtor Scholarship: Teresa Bjornson
$50 Excel Auto Body & Paint scholarship for highest scoring talent: Vanessa Martinez
$50 Excel Auto Body & Paint scholarship for highest scoring speech: Brittney Souza
