A Patient with a Crown

                In my opinion, one of the worst, and most annoying, things that could happen to a person is getting sick. Not just getting sick, though, but getting sick when there’s something both important and exciting to look forward to. This could mean getting sick on your first day at your new job, getting sick the day before you start college…

               

Or getting sick a couple of days before beginning your reign as a queen.

               

That’s right! One of the Florida Citrus Queens was ill just days before starting her reign. Two days, to be exact. Kay MacLean, 1958 Florida Citrus Queen, was supposed to start her reign on March 5^th, 1958. But on March 3^rd, she came down with an illness.

               

Measles.

               

Could you imagine? Only days away from beginning perhaps one of the most exciting years of your life and you come down with the measles. I’m glad I wasn’t poor Kay MacLean!

               

As sick as Ms. MacLean was at the beginning of her reign, though, officials in charge of her tour were hopeful, scheduling several radio and television appearances during her reign. I don’t know how, but somehow, she recovered and fulfilled her responsibility as a Florida Citrus Queen.

Maybe it was the healthy benefits of Florida citrus!

She went on to represent the citrus industry and promote it for the full year of her reign and, as can be seen by the picture below, she came through with a smile on her face! 

Courtesy Florida Citrus Hall of Fame Collection

 and Florida Citrus Archives, Florida Southern College

I sincerely admire Kay MacLean for being able to fulfill her role as the 1958 Florida Citrus Queen, despite starting off her reign while having the measles. In her shoes, I don’t know if I would have been able to do the same. In the end, I think that just shows the dedication that the girls who became Citrus Queens had. They knew they had to fulfill the responsibilities that came with the crown no matter what happened.

               

Even if it meant being a patient with a crown.

Written by Selys Rivera

Summer Intern at the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame

In partnership with Florida Southern College’s McKay Archives Center

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

Sources:

"Kay MacLean, after Winning Citrus Queen Title, Falls Prey to Measles." Citrus Magazine Apr. 
            1958: 16. Print.