Grace Collins is still getting used to the idea of being a princess.
Collins, 18, is one of this year’s crop of 24 Daffodil Festival Princesses, and on Saturday she and the rest of the recently crowned royalty made their very first public appearances – reading books to children at local libraries.
Collins, a senior at Fife High School, found herself in a daffodil yellow gown and sparkly tiara at the Fife Library, where a dozen adoring girls stared at her wide-eyed as she read from Jules Feiffer’s book, “Bark, George.”
Princesses Carly Knox, of Stadium High School and Mikayla Flores, of Chief Leschi School, also read to kids at the Fife Library on Saturday.
Other members of the Royal Court graced 10 other Pierce County library branches in the first of two “Read with a Daffodil Princess” events. More readings are scheduled for March 16.
How does it feel to be regarded with such admiration? Great, Collins said.
“Ever since I was little, princesses were always role models for me,” she said. “I used to think it was just the pretty dresses and the crowns, but it’s so much more.
“For me, being able to bring that all to life and to be a good role model for them,” she said, “that’s what it’s all about.”
The princesses were picked from 24 Pierce County high schools – White River High School joined last year – in advance of big events including the March 8 Queen’s Coronation and the April 13 Grand Floral Parade that rolls through four communities.
This theme for this year’s Daffodil Festival – the 80th annual – is “The Magic of Music.”
The 2013 royal court includes:
Noelle Kaku, Bethel High School
Taylor Friend, Bonney Lake High School
Kabrina Kidd, Cascade Christian High School
Mikayla Flores, Chief Leschi School
Suga Iopu, Clover Park High School
Kayla Prewitt, Curtis High School
Annelise Litzenberger, Eatonville High School
Cierra McMahon, Emerald Ridge High School
Grace Collins, Fife High School
Bobbi McGinnis, Franklin Pierce High School
Amy Bernstein, Graham-Kapowsin High School
Shelondra Harris, Foss High School
Helena Laubach, Lakes High School
Tara Harris, Lincoln High School
Angelica Martinez, Mount Tahoma High School
Kayla Williams, Orting High School
Brianna Pedicone, Puyallup High School
McKenna Erhardt, Rogers High School
Anna Kessner, Spanaway Lake High School
Carly Knox, Stadium High School
Marissa Gregg, Sumner High School
Alexus Reyes, Washington High School
Jessica Gamble, White River High School
Zoë Mix, Wilson High School
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