Red Wing, meet your ambassadors

Hannah Eisert, Tabitha Schneider and Danielle Patterson are the new Miss Red Wing Royal Ambassadors.

The 2011 Ambassadors Mallory Sachen and Chloe Mark crowned their successors Sunday and said they have high hopes for the young women and the year ahead of them.

“It seems unreal that it was a short year ago that we were up there as candidates,” Sachen said.

Eight candidates started off the evening with a choreographed dance number to “I Want Candy.” This went along with the theme for the 2012 pageant, “Sweet and Sassy,” held at Red Wing High School. After the applause died down, masters of ceremonies Gary Iocco and Marisa Dille introduced the women, who each addressed the crowd.

As candidates went off stage, the emcees took over. They introduced past royalty who were present, some from 1965. Next up, the stage interviews.

Questions included naming an inspirational teacher, identifying a dream vacation and listing a favorite thing to do during River City Days.

“My favorite place to go would be Hawaii,” Eisert said. “It is a beautiful place.”

An Aquatennial Honorary Commodore Award went to a Mary Plein for all of her work with the local pageant. She was called to the stage and given the award by current Queen of the Lakes Carly Smith, who gave up her 2011 Red Wing Royal Ambassador crown this summer after winning the Minneapolis title.

Next came another dance number, “Sweet and Sassy,” a video presentation of the good works done by the 2011 royalty and candidates, the evening gown parade and then farewell speeches from Sachen and Mark. They then crowned the 2012 court.

Eisert, Schneider and Patterson were shocked and ecstatic and shed a few tears of happiness.

“Happy girls are pretty girls,” quoted Sachen in her farewell speech, and this quote was personified in these girls with their happiness and their beauty.

Eisert also received the award of Miss Congeniality, as voted by fellow candidates. The three girls proceeded after the ceremony to greet their well-wishers at the Elks Club.

“It was very encouraging to see the town come out and support the girls and all of the hard work each of them put into this,” Mark said.

“Everyone needs to remember this one thing,” Sachen added. “Even if a girl doesn’t have a crown on her head, she can still represent and be an ambassador of Red Wing.”

Tags: red wing, news, social