Festival queen looks to future as reign concludes

Natalie Burgin spent the last year living out her dream.

Burgin saw her childhood aspirations come true Feb. 6 when she was crowned 2010 Florida Strawberry Festival queen. Now that her reign is drawing to a close, she said "it exceeded all my expectations."

"There were a lot of cool things and a lot of opportunities," the 18-year-old said.

On Saturday, she'll perform the final official act of her reign: crowning her successor. Then she'll take her place in festival history as one of the few chosen for the prestigious title.

Festival General Manager Paul Davis said Burgin represented the festival well. She seemed particularly gifted dealing with children.

Davis called her a role model and "we were just blessed to have her as queen."

Burgin, with the help of her court, including First Maid TyLynn Eben, Dayla Dementry, Rachel Hallman and Ashlyn Robinson, spent a year in the limelight, representing Plant City, the festival and the strawberry industry.

She said her favorite parts included introducing the headline acts at last year's festival and the chance to speak to students, including a time at Tomlin Middle School where she fielded random questions from a class. She said she was impressed with the festival operations that take place behind the scenes.

"There is a lot of work that goes into the festival. I have a new respect for them all."

Burgin's immediate plans call for her to enroll at the University of South Florida. The homeschooled high school senior plans to study international affairs with an eye toward joining the U.S. diplomatic corps. Her dream job would be to become a U.S. ambassador.

She comes from a family that's active in politics that includes her sister, Rachel, a Riverview Republican who is serving her second term as a member of the Florida House of Representatives.

The queen has no definite plans for political office of her own. And she's also undecided if she's entered her last beauty pageant.

For now, she's keeping her options open and appreciating the opportunity she had to wear the festival crown. She said the community showed her so much kindness over the last 12 months.

"I want to say a big thank you to Plant City," Burgin said.

"It was a fabulous year."

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Natalie Burgin