Stephanie Lemoi didn’t win the America’s Homecoming Queen Pageant, but the recent Johnston High School graduate experienced what she called “the trip of a lifetime.”
The events before and during the visit to Memphis, Tenn. – from being selected Johnston High’s Homecoming Queen to winning the state title and walking down the runway of a national pageant in an evening gown – were all part of Lemoi’s unique journey.
Lemoi said she learned just how important fundraising is, and met new friends Madeleine McCarty of Colorado, Danielle Jeys of Nevada and Isela Vasquez of California.
“We all stayed in the same room at the Doubletree Inn, which is a Hilton hotel in Memphis,” Lemoi said. “We’re still texting. We’re all hoping we will meet again sometime soon.”
Lemoi said she was particularly impressed with the “friendliness of all the homecoming queens,” which was “sincere and genuine.”
“Of course, I’m big on socializing,” said the daughter of Phil and Lori Lemoi, who was accompanied to Memphis by her father and grandmother. “Everyone was really friendly, and we all had fun during our best vacations ever.”
Cathryn Ellis, Kentucky’s candidate in the pageant, took home the honor of America’s Homecoming Queen. The title includes a college scholarship.
“She was really cool,” Lemoi said of the national winner. “She was just a great person.”
Lemoi, who is headed for Rhode Island College but is undecided about her major, will receive some sort of scholarship once the organizing committee finishes analyzing each and every candidate’s financial information.
While she loved the six-day trek to Memphis, Lemoi added: “I know my dad and grandma enjoyed the trip as much as I did, and the time we spent together created priceless memories.”
Upon their arrival, the candidates received packets that explained each and every detail of the week ahead. They also met 2013 winner Davanna Law.
Included in the trip was a tour of Memphis historical sites and a walk along the Mississippi River to view life-like statues of B.B. King and Elvis Presley. The candidates also visited the historic Lorraine Motel, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated.
“We went to Sun Studios where Elvis made his first album,” Lemoi said. “We had lunch at Chick-fil-A and we visited the Stax Museum of American Soul Music, and we toured Elvis Presley’s Graceland.”
While Graceland was impressive, Lemoi said, “I am glad I was able to experience being at the Lorraine Motel, a place I only thought I could read about in my history classes. That was unbelievable and it still seems unreal that I was in a spot where such a great and heavily influential man died.”
Yet another important part of Lemoi’s trip – and a lesson learned – was the intimidating process of being quizzed by judges and having to give speeches about her home state.
“I stayed relaxed and just remembered to be myself when I faced their interviews,” she said. “Doing just that, I think I rocked it, especially since the questions they asked were about things I’m involved in here at home.”
Her speech was backed by the rich history of Rhode Island and all of the fun things to do in and around the city of Providence.
The final day, Lemoi said, was the most tiring and nerve wracking.
“Evening gown [competition] kicked off at 3 p.m., and suddenly the whole week comes into perspective that this is what we have all been workings toward, practicing for and day dreaming of – wining the coveted title of America’s Homecoming Queen. My nerves went away, though, as soon as I hit the spotlight. I held my chin high, shoulders back and spoke loud and clear, then strutted my gown down the steps toward the stage.”
The next order of business was waiting to hear what candidates made the top 10.
“Sadly, I did not make the final cut … I got to watch some of my new best friends grace the stage and answer on-the-spot questions with elegance and ease,” Lemoi said. “No girl that night was heartbroken because at the end of the day we all gained new friends through the competition and realized just how lucky we were to be there.”
For Lemoi, it was a journey during which she showed 49 other candidates her pleasing personality and classy character – all on a national stage – and a special side that surfaced after Ellis was crowned the national winner.
“I could not be happier for her,” Lemoi offered. “She was super creative. She really impressed the judges and deserved to win the crown.”
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