Downtown Lakeland Partnership Hosts Miss Florida Meet & Greet

The public is invited to meet the women competing to become the next Miss Florida during a Meet and Greet in Downtown Lakeland on June 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nearly 50 contestants from throughout the state will be at various Downtown Lakeland businesses for autographs and photo opportunities.

My Office & More, located at 122. E. Main St., will host a free panel discussion at 11:30 a.m. with Miss Tampa Olivia Butler, Miss Orange County Lauren Nielsen, and Miss Central Florida Abigail Cunnane about what it takes to be a pageant contestant and what life is like as a title holder.

Come downtown to get autographs and your photo taken with the contestants. Here’s a rundown of where you can see the contestants:

• Brooke Pottery- Miss Apopka, Miss Boca Raton
• Edwards-Macy Bridal- Miss Imperial Polk County, Miss Suncoast
• Amelia Paige Boutique & Embroidery- Miss South Florida Fair, Miss Gold Coast
• Scout & Tag- Miss St. Augustine
• Rafa Natural- Miss Florida International University
• Stationery Loft & Gift Boutique- Miss Miami Beach, Miss Palm Beach County
• Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grill- Miss Kissimmee, Miss Pinellas County, Miss Pasco County Fair, Miss South Florida, Miss Manatee River, Miss Fort Lauderdale
• Bella Visage Medical & Aesthetic Rejuvenation- Miss Heart of Florida, Miss Florida Everglades
• Top Buttons- Miss Gainesville, Miss Largo
• Nathan’s Men’s Store- Miss University of Florida, Miss Florida Citrus, Miss Manatee County
• Two Hens & A Hound- Miss Central Florida
• Got Candy & More- Miss Desoto Heritage
• Traditions Unlimited- Miss Daytona Beach, Miss University of Miami
• Palace Pizza- Miss Ocala, Miss Ponte Vedra
• Just Dance- Miss Coral Gables, Miss University of Central Florida
• Mitchells Coffee House- Miss City Beautiful, Miss Winter Park
• Explorations V Children’s Museum- Miss Homestead, Miss Florida Azalea, Miss St. Petersburg
• Black & Brew Coffee House and Bistro- Miss Miami, Miss Jacksonville
• My Office & More- Miss Tampa, Miss Orange County, Miss Central Florida
• Urban Appeal- Miss River City, Miss Broward County
• Escapology Lakeland- Miss Osceola, Miss Pasco County
• Divicious Deli- Miss Miami-Dade

The Miss Florida Pageant preliminaries and finals events are June 27 through July 1 at the RP Funding Center. The winner will go on to compete in the Miss America Competition in Atlantic City on Sept. 10.

The RP Funding Center, formerly The Lakeland Center, is at 701 Lime St. in Lakeland.