Queen Scheherazade

NEW QUEEN SCHEHERAZADE CROWNED
New court to reign as ambassadors of 73rd Annual Fair

Pictured in the photo, from left to right:

Princess Dunyazade: Christina Marquez, Queen Scheherazade: Julianna Gaytan, Princess Jasmine: Zoe Elders

 

Indio, CA – On the evening of November 17, 2018 the Riverside County Fairground’s Fullenwider Building was transformed into a scene out of 1,000 Nights. Ten young ladies from across Riverside County competed for the crowns of Queen Scheherazade, Princess Dunyazade and Princess Jasmine. The Queen & her Court will act as goodwill ambassadors for the 2019 Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, February 15-24.

 

Crowned Queen Scheherazade was Julianna Gaytan.  Gaytan attends Desert Mirage High School as a senior, where she’s an accomplished academic, varsity cheer captain and actress with numerous awards.  She volunteers at a pregnancy center and hopes to help families through accessible healthcare.  Julianna plans on pursuing higher education to earn a degree in biology with a minor in theater.

 

Christina Marquez, from Cathedral City High School, was crowned Princess Dunyazade. She is a senior and has received several awards and distinctions for community service and academics, including three Golden Lion Awards.  She’s very passionate about medicine and interns at a doctor’s office.  Christina also volunteers for the Braille Institute, Relay for Life and other community organizations.  Marquez’ long term goal is to become a general practitioner. 

 

Crowned Princess Jasmine was Zoe Elders, a senior at Shadow Hills High School. Zoe is an honor roll student and executive officer in her high school’s leadership class.  She’s also varsity cheer captain and has competed in world cheer championships.  Elders hopes to attend the University of Notre Dame and major in business and economics. 

 

We look forward to having them represent the 2019 Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival. Congratulations, ladies!

  

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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.

 

 

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Former Queen Scheherazades