First Ms. Berkley Days is Ready for her Reign

Caring, loving and respectful are some of the qualities Ms. Berkley Days Olivia Citraro sees in herself and thinks should represent the bearer of her sash for generations to come.

“I think her personality should be most important,” Citraro explained about the ideal Ms. Berkley Days. “She has to be able to talk with people and have poise, her beauty should come last.”

Citraro, who is completing her freshman year at , received her title from a selection committee that evaluated interested girls based on many of the traits Citraro mentioned – conduct, poise and speaking ability – as well as community involvement and academics, according to Berkley Days chairwoman Denise Brainard.  

“We are very excited to have Olivia representing Berkley Days,” Brainard said . “She is a very well-rounded young lady and I think she will do a good job paving the way for future Ms. Berkley Days.”

The 15-year-old lives in Berkley and enjoys attending Berkley Days events every year, citing the midway is her favorite. She plays on the Berkley High JV tennis and golf teams, likes to hang out with her friends, listen to music on the benches by Recreation Center and bike around the city.  

“My friends were pretty excited when I told them about my new title,” Citraro said . “Now they’re all referring to me as Ms. Berkley Days.” 

One of her first duties as Ms. Berkley Days was to throw out the opening pitch at the to Mayor Phil O’Dwyer on Wednesday. Although her pitch soared over the mayor’s head, he still signed the ball and posed for a picture with her and her parents, Anthony and Susan.

“We are so proud of her!” Susan Citraro exclaimed. “We know she’ll do great.”

Citraro said her parents are her role models and that they encouraged her in all her pursuits, including seeking the Ms. Berkley Days title. After high school, she hopes to study nursing or another medical field at Wayne State University and her parents will support that dream as well, she said.

Right now, Citraro is focused on the year ahead.

“I feel my presence as Ms. Berkley Days will portray a new form of leadership in the community,” the teen said. “It’s going to be a lot of new experiences and I hope to show other girls what’s out there for them to achieve.”

Chairwoman Brainard is looking forward to Citraro reign to bring more awareness to the Berkley Days events.

“People tend to put Berkley Days aside after it ends,” Brainard said. “By having Olivia attend events throughout the year we are hoping it keeps the event in their minds and that she becomes a sort of local celebrity people can connect with.” 

Brainard is hoping that celebrity appeal will help grow the Ms. Berkley Days contest into a pageant, which was canceled this year due to few applications.  

For the remainder of this week, Citraro will be proudly wearing her sash to many of the Berkley Days events, including this weekend’s pancake breakfasts and the Pooch Pageant where she will be a judge.

“This next year’s going to be a lot of fun,” Citraro said. “It’s feels awesome to be Ms. Berkley Days.”