Thirteen young ladies from Palm Beach, Martin, Broward, Hendry and Okeechobee counties competed for the title of Miss South Florida Fair 2018 during the Miss South Florida Fair Scholarship Pageant, a Miss America affiliated pageant, on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the South Florida Fair. The contestants ranged from 17 years old and a high school senior to 24 years old.
Taylor Tyson was selected Miss South Florida Fair 2018. She will receive a $5,000 scholarship, along with an official Miss America crown and sash, as well as a $1,000 cash prize. Tyson is 23 years old and a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University, where she was on the President’s List and the Dean’s List for maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She was also a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and the Golden Key Society. She plans to attend law school in the fall.
A classically trained pianist, Tyson has been playing since she was four years old and earned a spot on National Public Radio’s From the Top as the youngest pianist from Florida. She is the president of her family’s foundation, the Beethoven Beatles Foundation, which donates musical instruments to underprivileged children.
In addition, Jessica Fernandez, the first runner-up, received a $1,250 scholarship; Mariluz Cook, the second runner-up, received a $1,000 scholarship; and Drew Schneider, the third runner-up, received a $750 scholarship.
Theresa LePore served as the voluntary executive director of the pageant. She and her committee worked with the participants for months to prepare for the pageant.
Miss South Florida Fair will have the benefit of carrying her crown further as she advances to the Miss Florida Pageant to be held in June in Lakeland. She will have the chance to receive additional scholarship funds and compete to represent Florida in the Miss America pageant.
