NEW QUEEN SCHEHERAZADE CROWNED
New court to reign as ambassadors of Fair

Names, left to right:
Princess Dunyazade: Brandy Briones
Queen Scheherazade: Amber Amaya
Princess Jasmine: Ambry Alday

On Saturday evening, November 21, 2009, the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival held the Queen Scheherazade Scholarship Pageant, sponsored by the City of Indian Wells at the Fairgrounds in Indio. The Fullenwider Auditorium was transformed into a scene out of the 1001 Arabian Nights, as three young women were chosen to represent the Fair as the Queen and her Court.

Eleven young ladies competed for their chance to be crowned queen; scholarship amounts range from $3,000 to $3,500. The ladies were previously interviewed by judges in an elimination round in October and during the Pageant gave a speech in business attire, and answered questions in evening gowns and in traditional Arabian costumes. The 2010 court winners are Amber Amaya for Queen Scheherazade, Brandy Briones for Princess Dunyazade, and Ambry Alday for Princess Jasmine.

Amber is a senior at Indio High School where she maintains a 4.45 GPA and serves as Editor in Chief of the Yearbook. She is ranked 5th in her class and has received numerous honors and awards. A senior at Norco High School, Brandy maintains a 4.61 GPA. She is on the Varsity Volleyball and Track & Field Teams. Ambry is a senior at Cathedral City High School, where she is a member of the Soccer, Golf, Tennis & Track teams, while maintaining a 4.31 GPA. She has also volunteered at Eisenhower Hospital for over 300 hours.

The new Queen and her Court will reign as ambassadors for the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, their duties will include promoting the Fair at various City Council meetings, parades and other special appearances leading up to the Fair, February 12-21, 2010. For more information about the Fair, call 1-800-811-FAIR.

THE LEGEND OF QUEEN SCHEHERAZADE 

Early storytellers of Baghdad say that there was once a jealous king named Shahriyar, who dearly loved his beautiful wife. But, unfortunately, he discovered that she was unfaithful. So he promptly had her beheaded.

The King vowed he would remarry and the morning following his wedding night his bride would be slain.

The task of finding the King a new wife each day was turned over to the Grand Vizier (Chief of Police). It so happened that the Vizier was the father of two of the most beautiful women in the land-Scheherazade and Dunyazade. Shocked at what was happening to her sister citizens, Scheherazade begged her father to take her as a bride to the king. At first the Vizier refused, but Scheherazade argued that eventually her time would come.

And so it was, that the king met “Scheherazade”, a comedian and great storyteller.

On their wedding night Scheherazade started the Tale of 1001 Nights, but she was unable to finish it. She promised to do so the next evening. Intensely interested, the king agreed. However, the next night, Scheherazade again stopped her story as it reached an exciting point. Again, the King agreed to a continuance.

And so it went for 1001 nights, until the King fell deeply in love with Scheherazade and they lived happily ever after.

DATE	TIME	LOCATION
Thursday, 01/07/10	1:30pm	City of Indian Wells, City Council meeting
Wednesday, 01/13/10	11:30am	Coachella Rotary Lunch, Indian Palms, Country Club/Indio
Wednesday, 01/13/10	6:30pm	City of Cathedral City, City Council meeting
Thursday, 01/14/10	1:30pm	Fair Board, Indio
Thursday, 01/14/10	4:00pm	City of Palm Desert, City Council meeting
Tuesday, 01/19/10	5:00pm	City of Desert Hot Springs, City Council meeting
Wednesday, 01/20/10	5:00pm	City of Indio, City Council meeting
Thursday, 01/21/10	1:00pm	City of Rancho Mirage, City Council meeting
Tuesday, 01/26/10	8:0am	Riverside County Board of Supervisors Meeting/Riverside
Wednesday, 01/27/10	6:00pm	City of Coachella, City Council meeting

Please note:  Appearances are subject to change.

Former Queen Scheherazades