As Miss Florida competition comes to Lakeland, Polk connections run deep

LAKELAND – When the 37 Miss Florida and 25 Miss Florida’s Teen contestants take the stage for the 88th annual Miss Florida pageant, they’ll come from across the state – from north to south, east to west.

And as in the past, among the women vying for the title of “Miss Florida” June 26 to 29 in the RP Funding Center's Youkey Theatre in Lakeland will be some with connections to Polk County.

There are at least 18 contestants from Polk County or nearby areas in the 2024 Miss Florida & Miss Florida’s Teen Competition. Among them: Reilly Cardella, Miss Apopka; Heather Sterchele, Miss Central Florida; Alana Scheuerer, Miss Florida Citrus; Megan Price, Miss Lakeland; Payton Barrington, Miss Polk County; Alexandra de Roos, Miss Winter Haven; Kennedie Clinton, Miss Lakeland’s Teen; Milee Hasting, Miss Orlando’s Teen; Ashlee Combee, Miss Polk County’s Teen; and Vaishnavi Rednam, Miss Swan City’s Teen.

Cardella, the 25-year-old Miss Apopka, has a talent for stilt walking. Hailing originally from Michigan, she moved to Orlando at 17 to work at the theme parks, including the LegoLand Florida Water Park in Winter Haven, where she works on stilts.

This will be Cardella’s second time in the Miss Florida competition. The first was in 2022 as Miss Largo.

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“(Miss Florida) started off as a talent opportunity. As a performer, I love any excuse to be on stage, but I also found out how community service is such a large part,” said Cardella, who said she hosts toy drives in the Apopka area and has raised $15,000 for toys for children fighting cancer in Polk County, Orlando and Apopka.

Hasting, 17, was born and raised in Plant City and lives there now. She’s going into her senior year at Dover’s Strawberry Crest High School, where she will be senior class vice president.

Hasting ended up competing for Miss Orlando, she said, to “broaden my horizons to go to a bigger city to spread my agriculture-based platform.” She said she would like to become a geneticist to work with genetically modified organisms and create them for farmers across the state to help with food production.

“I wasn’t sure the city was going to take in my platform, but I ended up winning the title and now I’m in Orlando advocating,” she said.

Hasting, eighth in her class of about 500 students, is dual-enrolled at Hillsborough Community College. She hopes to eventually enter the Miss America competition because she said it aligns with her “values, principles and morals.”

Barrington, 27, was born and raised in Orlando and goes to the University of South Florida, working on a doctorate degree in nurse anesthesia. She won the title of “Miss Polk County” in March as part of a competition open statewide.

“I really wanted to compete for the title of ‘Miss Lakeland’ and ‘Miss Polk County’ because it’s the home county for the Miss Florida competition. That’s why I wanted to pursue the title of ‘Miss Polk County,’” she said.

Barrington said she competed in dance competitions in Polk County and the county became “close to my heart,” despite not being from there.

“I’m grateful and fortunate that I’m able to represent Polk County and the home of the Miss Florida competition,” she said.

The Miss Florida preliminaries are 7:30 p.m. June 26-27, and tickets are $35; the Miss Florida's Teen preliminaries are 2 p.m., June 28 and cost $35. The Miss Florida-Miss Florida's Teen Finals start at 3 p.m. June 29 and cost $65.

For information, see www.rpfundingcenter.com/event-details/?eventId=32539 or call 863-834-8100.

Platform Art stakeholders party

Platform Art,  a -based nonprofit organization dedicated to producing public art and art-focused events, is holding a celebration of its year of projects and activities at 5 p.m., June 26, at CORE Wealth Advisors, 124 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland. For information, see www.platformart.org or call 863-838-2262.

All Shook Up Young@Part

The authorized 60-minute edition of the Broadway musical for elementary and middle schools and youth theatres. featuring the songs of 1950s Elvis Presley rock n’ roll hits. Theatre Winter Haven, 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd. at 6 p.m., June 28 and 1, 4 and 6:30 p.m., June 29. $15 adults, students $10. For information, see app.arts-people.com or call 863-294-7469.

Juneteenth Freedom Festival

Simpson Park Community Center, 1725 Martin L. King Jr. Ave., Lakeland, will be the site of celebration and reflection from 1 to 6 p.m., June 29. The free event will feature live music, food vendors, historical exhibits, and more. For information, see www.eventbrite.com/e/juneteenth-freedom-festival-registration-859119127437 or call 863-834-2577.