Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

GROVES — The 2024 Groves Pecan Queen Emily Brannin is now happily in a position to be a role model to young girls in the city.

Years ago Brannin won the duchess category and now as queen she can step up and step out.

“I take a lot of pride in being a rode model,” Brannin said. “I felt like getting this title will help me.”

She’s not new to the role model position; she is an Indianettes lieutenant, senior sports editor for NDN Press, social media coordinator with the Student Body and member of the National Honor Society — all roles in which her leadership skills shine for all to see.

Her mother Meagan Brannin describes her as a very caring individual.

“I love her personality,” Meagan Brannin said of Emily. “She quirky and caring and I’m very biased because I’m her mom. She’s very caring and I find her to be wonderful. It’s very rare for me to find anyone to say something negative about her. Everyone is impressed. She’s a very good kid.”

Brannin has been in dance since she was 3-years-old and is not ready to move away from the activity she loves.

After high school she wants to attend Texas State University and be part of the Strutters collegiate dance team and earn a degree as a civil engineer, she said.

Later, when she starts her career, she sees herself working with architects and building buildings, she said.

The busy high school student doesn’t have much down time but when she does find a way to relax, coloring books.

“It’s where I find my peace,” she said. “Life can be chaotic.