Grace Ryan
Staff Writer
Megan Price, a 2019 graduate of Florida Southern College, was crowned Miss Lakeland on March 9 at the Polk Theatre in Lakeland, Florida. The LaBelle native, who earned a Bachelor of Science in Multimedia Journalism, now resides in Fort Myers.
However, Lakeland still holds a special place in her heart, as she believes her time here, both in college and in pageantry, has helped her grow as a person.
“Miss America and Miss Lakeland focus on five points just like the five points on the crown: service, style, scholarship, success and sisterhood. These are the pillars of the Miss America organization and what it stands for,”Price said.
Miss Lakeland is a local competition in the Miss America organization and a local preliminary pageant to the Miss Florida pageant. Miss Florida is the preliminary to Miss America.
A former elementary school teacher, Price’s community service initiative focuses on a program fostering inclusive reading education (FIRE) among area youth.
“Access to literacy materials is one of the largest indicators of their reading achievement,” Price said. “Unfortunately, many students in our school system are illiterate and leave the school system not being able to read above a third or fourth grade level.”
This prompted her to partner with Little Free Libraries, a Minnesota based nonprofit book exchange service that allows members of the community to take and leave books in volunteer-led boxes. Price plans to put Little Free Library book exchange boxes around local parks, including Lake Hollingsworth, to enhance access to literacy materials for local students.
Price has been fundraising for Pace Center for Girls in Polk County for several years and plans to continue her involvement with this non-profit intervention program for at-risk teen girls during her reign as Miss Lakeland.
Price began competing in the Miss America organization when she was 17 years old. Since then, pageantry has given her skills she could’ve never imagined mastering.
“Pageantry has given me the confidence in my ability to speak to many different people,” Price said. “I am comfortable addressing a group of 500 or just talking one-on-one. She looks forward to representing Lakeland in the Miss Florida pageant in June. Her next goal is to compete in the Miss America pageant.
In the meantime, Price hopes to keep the Miss Florida title here in Lakeland.
“Miss Lakeland, Miss Polk County and Miss Swan City – along with a teen in each category – is ‘Team Lakeland,’” Price said. “We are always looking for ways to provide support in and around the Lakeland and Polk County community.”
Residents have a chance to meet Price at the 50th Anniversary of Sun ‘n Fun’s Aerospace Expo, which runs April 9-14. She will also be at the Swan Derby at Lake Mirror on April 26.
