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Twins Join Elite Royalty

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN and DAVE NICHOLSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 9, 2008

Updated: 02/07/2008 07:55 pm

PLANT CITY - Spectators at the Florida Strawberry Festival queen pageant may have thought they were seeing double.

First, Lauren Danielle Smith was named Miss Congeniality.

Then her identical twin, Kristen Elise Smith, won the queen's crown as family and friends hugged each other and cheered.

"I was freaked out and couldn't believe it," their mother, June Smith, said. "My mother Omega Kistner was a hoot. We held each other and couldn't speak we were so excited. I was just, "Wow!'"

Kristen Smith, a 5-foot-7-inch brunette, gave the thumbs-up after the 2007 queen, Summer Pippin, placed the sparkling crown on her head.

The 19-year-old daughters of June and John Smith join an elite group. In the early 1960s, twins Carolyn and Linda Duyck were selected as dual first maids, said Sandee Sytsma, chaperone of the royal court. "Other twins have competed, but not together," Sytsma said.

Kristen Smith was selected from a field of 25 candidates before a standing-room-only crowd at Tomlin Middle School. Smith and her court members, First Maid Shaunie Leigh Surrency and Britney Lynn Balliet, Jaclyn Frances Raulerson and Amanda Nicole Sparkman, were chosen by a panel of five judges following a more than three-hour pageant.

Smith wasn't the only new member of festival royalty to have a twin. But Sparkman's twin, Vanessa, did not compete.

The queen and her court make special appearances at parades and events at the Florida Strawberry Festival, including introducing headline acts. This year's festival is Feb. 28 to March 9.

Kristen Smith is a freshman at Southeastern University, a Christian college in Lakeland. She is studying psychology with a minor in Spanish. She would like to be a guidance counselor.

Smith, who is active in Bethany Baptist Church, called her crowning a "blessing from God."
Lauren Smith was delighted.

"I am so proud of my sister," she said. "The whole family was thrilled that Kristen was picked for the top five contestants. When they put the crown on her head we all went crazy."

Friendly Competition

Kristen and Lauren Smith are no strangers to pageants. They have competed in four during the past two years, including the 2007 queen's pageant.

"It's not really like we are competing," Kristen Smith said. "We look so much alike and enjoy the pageantry so much we know that if just one of us makes it, it could have just as easily been the other. It would have been great if we had been on the court at the same time. But it wasn't in God's plan. We did pray about it. I was proud and happy when she was named Miss Congeniality."

The Smith family lives in the Antioch area. John Smith is the proprietor of Statewide Washer Repair, a commercial installer and maintenance company for large corporations in the Tampa Bay region. June Smith, the daughter of a strawberry grower, works for Verizon in Tampa.

The twins have a brother, Casey, 21, who was at the pageant with the rest of the family.

"I am so proud of both of my daughters," June Smith said. "They are best friends, and seem to take turns doing well in local pageant competitions."
Lauren Smith watched the finals of the competition from the back of the auditorium. She said that although they are identical, her sister is "more buff" than she is.

"Kristen is the athletic one," Lauren Smith said. "I'm more artistic. I like to draw."
Lauren Smith plans to continue entering pageants. She will compete for Miss Heart of Plant City. If she doesn't win there, she will compete again at the 2009 strawberry festival queen pageant.

Meet The Court

Surrency, a 16-year-old Plant City High junior, is the daughter of the late Rick Surrency and Ken and Kim Struth. She plans to study medical science at the University of Florida. She is involved in FFA and Keyettes

Balliet, 18, is a freshman at Hillsborough Community College and the daughter of Bonnie and Philip Balliet. She is a graduate of Plant City High School and is pursuing a degree in elementary education. She is involved in First Baptist Church of Dover's college and career outreach program.

Raulerson, a 17-year-old Durant High School senior, is the daughter of Shirley and Dan Raulerson. She plans to attend the University of Florida or the University of Central Florida to pursue a degree in broadcast journalism and business. She is a member of the senior council and president of the student advisory committee.

Sparkman, 18, is a Hillsborough Community College freshman and the daughter of Mark and Sara Sparkman. She is a graduate of Durant High School and is pursuing a degree in nursing.

The court members said they were looking forward to representing Plant City and the festival during the coming year.

"I'm extremely honored. It's been my dream for a long time," Raulerson said minutes after she was named to the court.

Baillett said she couldn't believe it when her name was called as the pageant emcees announced the court members.

"I didn't think it was me at first," she said.

They were presented with roses and posed for photos, including many where they flanked the new queen, who sat on a throne shaped like a giant strawberry.

Caught By Surprise

Lauren Smith, a freshman at Hillsborough Community College studying elementary education, was selected Miss Congeniality by the contestants. But she said her sister is more outgoing.

"Kristen makes friends easily and isn't shy about talking with people," Lauren said. "When I was chosen as Miss Congeniality, I was surprised a little. But when they read on stage what the other girls wrote about me in making their choice it made me cry. I was very happy and thankful."

On the night of the pageant, June Smith tried to contain her excitement as her husband videotaped the contest.

"I try to wait and see what happens before I get too caught up in the competition," she said. "There were so many beautiful girls in the pageant. I love my daughters but you just never know what will happen."

Since the pageant, the Smiths have been flooded with congratulations.

"People are calling and coming over to let us know how happy they are for us, and how proud they are for Kristen," June Smith said.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib .com. Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432 or dnicholson@tampatrib .com.

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