And the Winner Is...Irony!

                Life has a funny way of working out sometimes.

                Let’s say Sam and his friend, Jim, really want their dream jobs. They try their best and apply to their dream positions. Just in case they don’t get it, they also apply to the job their friend wanted. Out of a weird twist of events, Sam ends up with Jim’s dream job, and Jim with Sam’s.  

                There’s only one word to describe that.

Ironic.

                Now, this exact example didn’t happen, but something similar did to two former Florida Citrus Queens, and one runner up, that might be even more ironic. You see, 1954 Citrus Queen, Ann Daniel, and 1956 Citrus Queen, Dorothy Steiner, wanted more than just their Citrus Queen titles. They tried for the big one.

                Miss America.

                However, they unfortunately didn’t win. They did both make it to the pageant and tried their best, but ultimately, some other beauty took the crown. In the end, Dorothy Steiner came in fourth and Ann Daniel was runner up.

                Here’s the ironic part.

                Though these two women were able to win the Citrus Queen title but not Miss America, there was one who did the exact opposite. Neva Jane Langley ran for Citrus Queen in 1949, but only came in second place. She didn’t let this discourage her, though, as she later ran for Miss America in 1953 representing Georgia.

                Guess what? She won!

                Isn’t that just ironic? Two women were chosen for Florida Citrus Queen, but not for Miss America. On the other hand, another woman was chosen for Miss America, even though she wasn’t chosen for Florida Citrus Queen.

                Maybe the real winner should have been irony!

Written by Selys Rivera

Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Summer Intern

McKay Archives Center, Florida Southern College

For more information on the queens, please visit the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame website Citrus Queens section. You can also go to the Florida Citrus Queens/Miss Florida Citrus Facebook page.

Sources:

"Citrus Queens on Parade Tradition for Half a Century." Florida Citrus Festival '74. Winter Park, 
          FL: Florida Citrus Showcase, 1974. 37+. Print.