Kinzie Friesen says she had no idea that she was going to be chosen as the 2024 Manitoba Sunflower Queen.
When her name was called, she was in complete shock.
“I couldn’t even cry. I was like, ‘What the heck?’” she recalled. “It’s unbelievable. I’m so excited to be able to represent the town this next year.”
The crowning took place July 27 during the Manitoba Sunflower Festival’s Saturday night stage show. A crowd of thousands was there to witness the event, which was the culmination of months of preparation with 10 other Queen Quest entrants.
Friesen said her favourite part of the process was delivering speeches and practising the dance routines for the big show Saturday night. But there were also some challenges along the way.
“I’ve been working really hard at being better at talking to people and connecting with others, so that’s been a challenge for me, but I’ve really been doing my best to just make others feel seen and heard these past few months.”
It was a journey she says she’ll never forget.
“I just got to know everyone so much more, and we could all work together and hang out. And the speeches, I don’t know, I just really like writing, so that was super cool to be able to put my heart into something and share it with others.”
She explains, “It was amazing. I just got to know everyone so much more. We got to hang out together and talk about things, and I don’t want to say our struggles, but kind of, yeah, we got to share things together and support each other, and it was just so awesome because I don’t always see them all the time in school. This was my one last chance to grow closer with all my classmates before we all go off and do amazing things.”
As 2024 Manitoba Sunflower Queen, Friesen will be off to Altona’s sister city, Emerald, Australia, around Easter next year representing her hometown at that community’s Central Highlands Sunflower Festival Queen Quest.
“I’m so excited. I totally forgot about that, honestly. I’m so excited to go see Chloe [Wright, the 2024 Central Highlands Sunflower Queen] again, and to be able to meet all these different animals and see all these things and the accents. It’s so cool to hear the accents, so I’m excited to hear those.”
She says she is deeply grateful to those who supported her and believed in her during this journey.
“When I didn’t always feel confident in myself, everyone kept boosting me up and just helping me through everything and all my questions that I always asked and stuff. They were so patient and kind. I can’t thank you enough because I wouldn’t be here without everyone.”
Along with her duties as the community’s newly chosen Sunflower Queen, Friesen plans on studying at the University of Manitoba for engineering.
Friesen says she’s thrilled for Kate Fennell, who was named 1st Princess, and Mackenzie Friesen, who was named 2nd Princess.
“I’m just so happy with everyone else who won. I’m just so happy with everything,” she says. “I just kept looking over, because I was on the end, I just kept looking over to everyone, and I just kept smiling because I’m so happy with how close I’ve grown with everyone else, and how much growth we’ve all made these past few months, and I’m so glad that we all got to know each other. Yeah, I feel like everyone should have just won.”
