Miss Red Coconut RV Park: 2013 Shrimp Queen
She was selected Miss Photogenic last year. This year, she is a picturesque queen.
Seventeen-year-old Christina Glase, sponsored by Red Coconut RV Park, was crowned 2013 Shrimp Queen by 2012 Shrimp Queen Jamie Costa at the 55th annual Fort Myers Beach Lions Shrimp Festival this past weekend.
The annual shrimp festival queen pageant, held on the pavilion at Lynn Hall Park, was one of many activities – an 1-1/2-hour long parade and weekend-long Food Fun & Crafts Expo among them- put on by the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club. The local shrimp boat fleet provided fresh Gulf shrimp for all who purchased.
Glase, a junior at Estero High School, is active both academically and athletically at school. She is the student body secretary this year and plans on running for student council president next year. She also is a two-year varsity volleyball letterman and one-year varsity basketball letterman at Estero High.
Glase has ties to the Beach in her participation in “multiple beach volleyball tournaments” on the island.
“It’s given me a shown appreciation for teamwork and the beautiful beaches we have here,” she said before receiving the crown.
Her post high school plans include attending Edison State College then graduating from the University of Florida with a degree in special education. Her community involvement includes the Christmas Service Project, where she and her student body cohorts have visited elementary schools and head start programs to gather the students’ Christmas wish lists.
“After shopping for the students, they get to come to Estero High, have milk and cookies, story time with Santa and then open their presents with Santa,” she said. “This is very heart warming because for a lot of these kids, it’s the only presents they will receive all year.”
Glase’s career path in special education is also a heart warming one.
“My inspiration for this is centered on my personal experiences and the need to celebrate these students’ special talents,” she said. “To start my career, I plan on becoming involved with the special equestrians, a nonprofit organization that teaches these kids how to ride horses along with providing therapy and given them an opportunity to fell a sense of accomplishment at the same time.”
The 2013 shrimp queen thanked her sponsors, Red Coconut owners Fran and Tom Myers.
“I like to thank them for not only sponsoring me, but for everything I do,” she said. “They are awesome.”
Miss Charley’s Boat House Grill Jordan Wallace was chosen as runner-up to the queen as well as Miss Congeniality. The 17-year-old senior at Cypress Lake High School was born and raised on the Beach and has worked at Publix Supermarket and Charley’s Boat House Grill.
Wallace carries a weighted 5.07 GPA, belongs to the Spanish, National and Social Studies honor societies and will graduate with 26 college credit hours from Edison State College. At Cypress Lake High, she has been a varsity soccer player, varsity cheerleader and varsity softball player and has run cross-country for the Panthers.
“I plan on going to the University of Florida in the fall and major in Biomedical Science and become a physical therapist or pursue sport medicine,” she said. “My mom is a nurse, so I know how important and interesting it can be sometimes.
“I want to thank Charley’s Boat House and General Manager Michael Stanton for sponsoring me and congratulations to them on their 40th anniversary.”
Miss Islands & Beyond Lawn & Landscape Bailey Mullarkey captured Miss Photogenic for 2013. She is a senior at Fort Myers High and will graduate Summa Cum Laude honors. She plans on majoring in Education in college.
During the Q&A portion of the pageant, she explained her love for photography.
“I love the creative side of it,” she said. “I am part of the News-Press breaking news team. My mom encouraged me to take part in that. I would love to get involved in journalism.”
Beach Lion Michael Cascone was the master of ceremonies for the queen pageant. President Sheila Kelley is directly involved with walking the princesses through the whole process, and all the princesses thanked her for that.
“Sheila Kelley has just done an amazing job. She put her heart and soul into this,” said Cascone.
Thank you wishes were also given out to Charles Hester Photography, the Island Sand Paper, Gulfshore Grill, Publix of Fort Myers, You Look Mahvalous fashion jewelry outlet in Fort Myers (who donated the crowns and contestant gifts) Fort Myers Beach Florist and Hobo Productions for contributing to the success of the pageant.