Pageant director excited for first year

The Mexican Mutual Society held an official photo shoot for their annual Cinco de Mayo Little Queen March 10 at 1820 E 28th St. in Lorain

“The Cinco de Mayo Little Queen is title is a competition by girls ranging from ages 5 to 9,” said Anita Cruz, pageant director for the Cinco de Mayo Little Queen. “The winner is decided by who sells the most tickets for the Cinco de Mayo Parade. That’s when we will reveal the little queen for 2018.”

Cruz said this year is her first as pageant director for the contest.

“This is something I have been around my whole life,” she said. “I’m a former queen, for the 1991 contest, and i have had sisters and cousins win as well. I have been the director of the Alma de Mexico dance troupe, and so I feel I have the right amount of experience to instruct these girls to do the best they can.”

Cruz said she knew it would be difficult run the pageant for the first time,

but she’s enjoying the experience.

“I’m so grateful to my friend, Frances Vazquez, for helping me with the contest,” she said. “It takes a lot to manage the ticket sales and how many each girl is selling. There also needs to be a level of confidentiality involved, so the contest is a fair one for all the girls. It is a big job and I’m thankful for her help.”

Cruz said the work is worth it to go through the experience with the contestants.

“These girls are adorable,” she said. “They come into the contest a little shy and unsure, but they really open up when they get to know me. It doesn’t take long for them to get into wearing the traditional Mexican dresses and enjoying the spotlight the event puts on them. It gets

pretty competitive, but in a friendly way. They all know each other, so it’s a fun annual tradition for the community to be a part of.”

Cruz said the tickets cost one dollar each and benefit the Mexican Mutual Society.

For information on the contest, the Cinco de Mayo Parade or details on how to participate, call Marie Leibas at 440-288-0144.

ZACH SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Isabella Ostolaza, Neveah Hamilton-Morales, Angela Sanchez, Arrayah Craighead, and Eleyna Szakats pose during the Cinco de Mayo Little Queen photo shoot.