Congratulations to our 2023 Daffodil Princesses!
2023 Daffodil Royal Court

Photos courtesy of the Daffodil Festival

The Daffodil Festival has been celebrating our community for the past 90 years and the annual parade travels through four Pierce County communities - Tacoma, Puyallup, Sumner and Orting. Each year, 24 seniors from high schools across Pierce County represent their schools on the Daffodil Royal Court and five of those students are from Tacoma Public Schools.

Throughout the year, these students gain public speaking skills, self-confidence, and more while interacting and giving back to their community. Learn more about the 90th annual Daffodil Parade on their website.

Meet our Daffodil Princesses

Mariya Startseva

Foss High School: Mariya Startseva

At Foss, Mariya is a member of Readers and Writers, Key Club, and is the President of Theater Club. Mariya also attends Bible College, where she has been able to earn her Associates Degree in Discipleship of Ministry. Mariya is part of the Administration team at Bible College and is the leader of the Hospitality team. In the fall, Princess Mariya will attend a four-year university to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, and has plans to eventually attend Law school. In her spare time, Mariya enjoys playing soccer, softball, guitar, and piano, and fondly recalls her time performing recitals at the Star Center. Mariya, a first-generation Russian immigrant, represents her multi-cultural diversity while connecting, displaying, and serving others in her community.

 

Kait Nguyen

Lincoln High School: Kaitlyn Nguyen

Music is a huge part of Princess Kait’s life. She can play a variety of instruments, but her favorite instrument of all is her voice: this year marks her fifth year of Choir, and fourth in Studio Choir! Outside of Lincoln’s halls, Kait serves in a non-profit organization called Sending Sunshine, which aims to help reduce the negative effects of social isolation among our community’s senior citizens through letter writing. Being born and raised in Pierce County, Princess Kait’s favorite part of our community is the diverse group of amazing people she has met and the people that she has yet to meet. After graduation, she plans to attend the University of Washington Seattle to pursue a career in Dental Hygiene. A fun fact about Princess Kait, is that she is bilingual and can fluently speak Vietnamese.

 

Bre Bartlett

Mt. Tahoma High School: Breannah Bartlett

Princess Bre was recently voted “Most Hardworking” by her peers, and participates in a variety of programs, including Avid, HERO, and Upward Bound. She also participates in the Yearbook Club and Associated Student Body. Some of her favorite hobbies include playing Fastpitch for Mount Tahoma, being around her friends and family, and doing anything she can to give back to her community. After high school, Bre plans to attend Pacific Lutheran University to seek a degree on the pre-Occupational Therapist track, while also minoring in American Sign Language. She was inspired by the Special Education classes she was fortunate enough to TA for through the Teach 253 program. Princess Bre’s favorite part about Pierce County is the diversity it holds, and the opportunities that are created to make new connections and bond over the experiences our county has to offer.

 

Kyona Fox-Flores

Silas High School: Kyona Fox-Flores

Princess Kyona has lettered and been chosen as Captain in three sports: Volleyball, Track and Field, and Girl’s Flag Football. Kyona is also a member of the Pierce County League Sportsmanship Committee, is the voice of Tacoma School's Girls Flag Football, and volunteers as a Metroparks Youth Volleyball Coach. For the last four years, Princess Kyona has served as a leader for the Silas High School ASB, and is also a member of the Tacoma All-City Senate, as well as on her school's student-led interview board. Kyona also works at Lefty’s Burger Shack, and enjoys volunteering every year at the Tacoma Rescue Mission. After high school, Princess Kyona plans to continue her education at a four-year university  to study Business Marketing, with plans to own her own real estate company selling commercial buildings. Princess Kyona’s favorite part of Pierce County is the diversity, and she herself comes from a multicultural background, as she is Chamorro and Caucasian, with a family heritage originating from the island of Guam.

 

Emma Holmes

Stadium High School: Emma Holmes

At Stadium, Emma is the Activities Coordinator for National Honor Society, plays on the varsity Lacrosse team and is a member of Ski Club, both of which she has been involved with since Freshman year. Outside of school, Emma is involved in the civil rights activism organization, The Common Power Way, and has been an avid volunteer at the Browns Point FISH Food Bank since elementary school. After graduation, Emma hopes to attend Columbia University to study Political Science and Human Rights, with the intention of becoming an international human rights attorney for the United Nations. Emma is extraordinarily passionate about advocating for human rights, as well as empowering fellow women with gaining confidence and being a resource for those struggling with mental health. Emma values being a role model to her five year old cousin, and wants to show her that she can become anything she sets her mind to, even a Princess. 

 

 

 

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