GROVES — With a crown on her head, it’s official … Tori Tinsley is “representing.”
“I’ve just been so excited. It’s been my dream to represent my city,” said Tinsley, the newly-crowned Texas Pecan Festival Queen.
She took the title at this past weekend’s pageant and said she plans to be at Lions Park throughout the festival this weekend, including when Sandy Calamia’s Danceworks performs on Saturday. It’s familiar ground for Tinsley.
“As soon as I could walk, I’ve been at that festival every year,” she said.
Tinsley, 15, is a sophomore at Port Neches-Groves High School. She is the daughter of Monroe and Sandy Tinsley and was the 2000 Texas Pecan Duchess and the 2006 Texas Pecan Princess. She received the title of Miss Dance at the 2009 KAR Houston Dance Competition.
Her mother, Sandy, is co-director of the studio and Tinsley is an assistant teacher.
“I’m here at least three times a week for hours. I especially love the little bitty kids,” she said. “I do lyrical, tap, jazz, ballet, clogging and hip hop. I feel like it is my passion in life. Dance relieves stress. It’s just fun. It’s something I hope to pursue.”
This queen says she’s a regular girl.
“I’m just an average, regular, typical high school student teenage girl. I like doing anything that’s fun, supporting school football games … just you know, the normal,” Tinsley said.
The Groves Chamber of Commerce & Tourist Center has released complete pageant results:
Texas Pecan Queen: Tori Nicole Tinsley
1st Runner Up: Kelsey Lynn Cross
2nd Runner Up: Mariah Elise Kyler
3rd Runner Up: Jessica Renae Brown
Texas Pecan Princess: Kaylee Gabrielle Kyler
1st Runner Up: Brittain Gayle Bertrand
2nd Runner Up: Charlee Nicole Chelette
3rd Runner Up: Kaylee Konidis
Texas Pecan Junior Miss: Makinsey Chipman
1st Runner Up: Laura Elizabeth McCutcheon
2nd Runner Up: Kassidy Ann Hoyt
Texas Pecan Countess: Madylin Rebecca Rogers
1st Runner Up: Alexis Victoria Collazo
2nd Runner Up: Brooke Olivia Clark
3rd Runner Up: Kaylin Victoria Mancera
Texas Pecan Duchess: Lillian Jane LeBlanc
1st Runner Up: Grace Elizabeth Richard
2nd Runner Up: Josie Marie Collazo
3rd Runner Up: Preslee M. Clark
Texas Pecan Little Miss: Angel Marie DeVillier
1st Runner Up: Rylee Nicole Rojas
2nd Runner Up: Madison Breanne Monroe
3rd Runner Up: Marena Jolie Welch
Miss Congeniality: Katherine Christine Hardy
