Vying for DeSoto queen title

By WENDY DAHLE

Special to the Herald

BRADENTON --

Stage nerves turned to fright Saturday when one of the 10 young women vying for the DeSoto queen's crown lost her official court dress just two hours before the start of the annual musical and fashion show at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium.

The official dress is worn at each of the events during the Hernando DeSoto Heritage Festival, and was to be worn in the show's opening number.

"You never know what's going to happen," producer Tracey Vita said, moments before the show's start.

All was not lost.

The dress turned up in the Bradenton Police evidence room, after slipping out of a garment bag Friday night following a show rehearsal. It was found in the auditorium's parking lot and turned in to the department.

With a little persuasion from Hernando DeSoto Historical Society members, the police delivered the missing dress and the show went on.

"They didn't realize we needed it today, so they kept it in their evidence," said John Vita chair of the queen's selection committee and Tracey's brother.

About 800 people attended the afternoon show, which is part of the month-long activities of the DeSoto Heritage Festival sponsored by the Hernando DeSoto Historical Society.

The afternoon show is sometimes viewed as more of a dress rehearsal for the evening performance, John Vita said. The evening performance is when Hernando DeSoto historical Society members vote for their favorites.

Once votes are tabulated, the new queen and princess will be crowned at the Grand Ball next Friday evening.

The DeSoto queen and princess will serve as ambassadors for Manatee County, traveling around the country and to Spain.

"For the girls, it's very important," he said. "Certainly they all have that pit in their stomach being the first time in front of the membership, knowing they are voting."

The 2007 DeSoto Queen, Caitlen Williford, recalled the musical and how important it is in the steps leading up to the coronation. She described it like being in a fairy tale.

"You're in a gown," said Williford recalling last year's event as tears filled her eyes. "It's amazing. That's when you realize you've put all this energy into it and it's all going to be over in a week."

The musical and fashion show has been an annual community tradition in Bradenton for more than 30 years, become a big deal for the young women competing, said Tracey Vita, who has coordinated the show for the past six years. Only 10 candidates are chosen for queen's court from as many as 45 applicants, she said.

"It's not a beauty pageant," said Tracey Vita. "It's about their future. It's about being in the community. It's about making Bradenton look good so people will come here." Once the case of the missing dress was solved, the fashion show took off