OKEECHOBEE- Crowns for a Cure is seeking contestants for its next pageant in Okeechobee on April 2.

Categories at the pageant will include Baby Miss Okeechobee for ages 0-1 year old, Tiny Miss Okeechobee for ages 2-4, Mini Miss Okeechobee for ages 5-7, Little Miss Okeechobee for ages 8-10, Junior Miss Okeechobee for ages 11-13, and Miss Teen Okeechobee for ages 14-18.

Winners will receive an official crown, rhinestone sash, roses sponsored by Countryside Florist, $50 Gift Certificate from Eli’s Western Wear, and a photoshoot sponsored by Ehricka Wallace Photography.

Deadline for entries is March 21 before 4 p.m. Applications must be turned in to Okeechobee Chamber of Commerce.

In 2021 Crowns for a Cure held its inaugural event in Okeechobee, with over 60 contestants, from toddlers to teenagers, participating in the pageant.

The pageant was organized by Miss Okeechobee USA Taylor Fulford, who wanted to use the event to raise funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Last year’s event went on to raise over $9,000 for juvenile diabetes.

This year all of the proceeds from Crowns for a Cure will be donated to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Taylor is a big supporter of pageantry and credits her experience with it as what helped shaped her into the young woman she is today.

“I want to encourage girls and make them understand that this is not a superficial pageant,” explained Taylor. “It’s not just about looks. It’s about a young lady that is confident in themselves, and how they present themselves on stage. I want them to invite their friends to do it with them because I really want this to be a fun experience more than a competition.”

Even if you’ve never competed in a pageant before, Crowns for a Cure will be a welcoming experience.

“I’ve been in their shoes,” said Taylor of girls who are curious about the event, but haven’t competed in a pageant before. “The first pageant I ever competed in was Miss Teen Okeechobee, so I didn’t even compete until I was nearly 18 years old. I’m always willing to help them with anything.”

Crowns for a Cure is set for April 1 at 5 p.m. at the Okeechobee KOA. Attendees are asked to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness. For more information reach out by email at crownsforacureokee@gmail.com. You can also follow their social media at Crowns for a Cure Okeechobee | Facebook and  the Crowns for a Cure Okeechobee Instagram (@crownsforacureokee) .