Kennedie Clinton

2023 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen

Tell our readers a little about about yourself. I am 16 years old and currently a Junior at Durant High School, where I am involved in many clubs such as the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Durant Theatre Company, National Art Honor Society (where I am Historian) and the Go Green Club where I am the Social Media Manager. I have grown up around the Tampa area my entire life and have lived in Plant City with my mom and stepdad, Mike and Michelle Engle, for about 4 years. I am academically focused, taking multiple AP and honors classes throughout all high school. After I graduate next May, I plan to attend a prestigious university and either obtain my Ph.D. in Physics or Law to become either an Astrophysicist or Criminal Defense Attorney. My top 2 colleges are Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida.

You are joining a long line of women before you to hold this title. What does it mean to you to be a part of Plant City history?

To me it means I will be leaving my mark on Plant City and inspiring future Strawberry Queens. As someone who was not born and raised in Plant City, it means I will be inspiring other girls whose families may not have lived here for generations to go out and compete for the title. Being multicultural means I will be inspiring other multicultural girls to one day compete in the strawberry queen. It means that as your 2023 Strawberry Queen I will be a leader in my community and I will be looked up to by the citizens of Plant City beyond the next year, but for years to come, and I am so blessed and honored to have been given that responsibility.

The FL Strawberry Festival Queen serves as an ambassador for the city and our state’s strawberry crop. How do you hope to serve Plant City in this role?

I plan to spend this year getting the opportunity to further educate myself about our city’s agriculture industry, since it truly is the backbone of Plant City and what keeps our community prospering. For the next year as Strawberry Queen, I will stand side by side with not only the farmers of our community, but every person and group who is involved with the production of strawberries, and advocate for them and their needs at all levels. Without everyone involved in the strawberry process, our community would not be able to come together year after year to celebrate at the Florida Strawberry Festival.

Other than the 11-day Strawberry Festival, what is an event you’re looking forward to this year?

I’m looking forward to going to events where I get to interact with the youth of the community, such as the Little League opening day! As someone with 4 little sisters, I have been looked up to as a role model since I was about 8 years old and love interacting with younger kids and being able to inspire them and make some sort of difference in their lives.

Tell us about your previous pageant experience. My first ever pageant was the 2021 Junior Royalty Pageant where I placed first maid in the Queen division. After I placed so high, me and my mom decided to ‘roll with it’ and continue with other pageants and signed up for the 2021 Miss Florida Teen USA competition! I competed in July of 2021 and was so blessed to have placed in the top 17 out of about 50/60 girls. I continued by doing the 2022 Durant Calendar Girl pageant where I placed as Miss March. I competed again at the 2022 Junior Royalty pageant as my last year eligible in the Queen’s division and was honored to have been named the 2022 Florida Strawberry Festival Junior Royalty Queen! I competed once again at Miss Florida Teen USA the following May and was so grateful to have placed as a semi-finalist for the second year in a row. I was offered the opportunity to represent the state of Florida at the 2022 National Princess America Pageant in July of 2022 and competed, winning the face of the year award and the be your best self award. After that, I competed in Durant’s Calendar Girl competition once again and was named Miss May. Afterwards, I was full of preparation for this year’s Strawberry Queen Pageant, and I was so blessed to be crowned your 2023 Florida Strawberry Festival Queen!

What is your favorite Festival food? The cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing! You also have to stop by the coffee stand in the Parke Building to get an iced caramel coffee to go with it!