May 29, 2020
By: Staff Report, Jack Cormier
LAKELAND, FL – The Miss Florida Scholarship Program announced today that its summer competitions will be postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.
Both the Miss Florida Scholarship Competition and the Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen Competition were scheduled to take place this summer.
The organization is working with Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing, also known as Visit Central Florida, to finalize and confirm dates for 2021.
With an abundance of caution and with the safety and health of both participants and their families as well as staff in mind, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to follow the lead of the parent Miss America Organization.
Both Miss Florida 2019, Michaela McLean, and Miss Florida’s Outstanding Teen 2019, Hannah Adams, have agreed to continue serving in their respective roles.
“We are looking forward to hosting the 85th anniversary Miss Florida Competition, as well as celebrating our fifth year at the RP Funding Center in our hometown, Lakeland,” said Keith Williams, the pageant’s executive director. “We are grateful to our sponsors, the directors of our local competitions, and current local candidates for their support and enthusiasm of this decision.”
“Lakeland in particular and Polk County in general has truly embraced The Miss Florida Competition,” said Mark Jackson, the director of Polk County Tourism and Sports Marketing. “We look forward to their safe return to the RP Funding Center in 2021.”
For any questions, please contact Keith Williams, Miss Florida Scholarship Program, keith@missflorida.org or 352-516-1593.