Czech-Slovak pageant returns

The Czech-Slovak Royalty Pageant returned to Yukon with the Yukon Czech Hall celebrating its 120-year anniversary.

The 2020 pageant was canceled, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s 2021 pageant, hosted Sept. 26, was closed, except to family members, pageant officials and royalty contestants, due to ongoing COVID-19 precautions. Nonetheless, the tradition is back on track.

A live stream video of the pageant was produced. Pageant Director Debbie Kessler said the video link will be posted on the Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Royalty Facebook page and on YouTube.

Presented by Oklahoma Czechs, Inc., the Oklahoma Czech-Slovak royalty pageant showcased 14 contestants, who competed in different categories.

The Oklahoma Czech-Slovak queen competition is for females ages 17 to 25.

The junior queen competition is for females ages 11 to 16. Males who are ages 5 to 10 may compete for the prince title. The princess competition is for females ages 5 to 10.

The only person seeking the queen title is Anna Sedivy-Thompson, making her the queen-elect. The 21-year-old university senior is an accomplished musician.

She was dancing the iconic Czech Beseda Dance by age 3. She told that as a preschooler, she began giving school presentations about her Czech-Slovak heritage. She danced for the talent portion of the competition.

Competitors for Junior Queen are Aspen Hein, Hannah Thomason and Eva Thompson. Princess competitors are Hailey Erwin, Emma Fraser, Sophie Gering, Josie Jedlicka, London Lippencott, Kennedy Myrick and Ainsley Wesselski.

Those competing for the title of Prince are Elliott Gering, Jon Jantz and Seth Pruett.

For the pageant, all contestants wore original “Cesky Kroj” (Czech folk dress) during the pageant. Each contestant modeled their unique kroj on stage, and all parts of the kroj have special meaning.

The kroj were often made by multiple generations of their family members, and some wore historic kroj that belonged to ancestors.

In some cases, portions of the kroj were made from heirlooms belonging to past generations. Colors and parts of the kroj usually represented each contestant’s family heritage, along with personal choices made by the contestant.

Contestants were interviewed prior to the pageant.

They also interviewed on stage and displayed their ability to respond to the queries, as well as their ability to relate to the crowd.

All pageant winners will receive prizes, with the queen receiving a $1,000 scholarship and more. The queen will represent Oklahoma in the National Miss Czech-Slovak competition.

The 2019-2020 royalty was present at the pageant. For the first time in the pageant’s history, due to the pandemic, the royalty served two terms.

They include the 2019-2021 Oklahoma Czech-Slovak Queen Emily Cole, Junior Queen Kinzy Shirazi, Princess Lola Mae Yanda and Prince Conner Imhoff.

After a pandemic hiatus during 2020, Yukon’s Czech Festival returns Saturday. The 2021-2022 pageant winners will be announced during the festival at 4 p.m. at the Oklahoma Czech Building located at 5th and Cedar Streets in Yukon. Representing Oklahoma Czechs, Inc., the new royalty will appear in parades and at various events and festivals in Oklahoma and other states.

Oklahoma Czechs, Inc. President Marjorie J. Jezek said this year’s Czech Festival, the 55th, will include a day of Czech music outside the Oklahoma Czech Building at 5th and Cedar Streets in Yukon, as well as homemade kolaches and other Czech goodies.

Adding to the festivities will be 150 craft vendors and 30 food vendors.

The annual Czech Festival Parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street in Yukon.

To be eligible to compete, contestants must be Oklahoma residents who are of Czech-Slovak descent or they must be legally adopted by parents of Czech-Slovak descent.