SAN FRANCISCO — The deadline for applications for 2012 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen has been extended to Wednesday, Feb. 9.
The next queen will be selected on the first day of the Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival, which will be held the weekends of April 14-15 and 21-22 in San Francisco Japantown. The 2011 and 2012 Cherry Blossom Courts will ride in the Grand Parade on the last day.
The queen, first princess and other court members serve as goodwill ambassadors of the Japanese American community of Northern California at various local functions as well as Nikkei pageants in Los Angeles, Seattle and Honolulu. The queen also visits Tokyo and Osaka, San Francisco’s sister city.
To be eligible, candidates must:
– Be a female at least 18 years old and not more than 25 years old as of April 14, 2012.
– Be single, not have been previously married and not have any children.
– Be of at least 50 percent Japanese ancestry.
– Be a U.S. citizen and have lived in the Northern California area for at least three years; or be a foreign national with permanent resident status of at least one year and have lived in the Northern California area for at least three years; or be a foreign national residing in Northern California for at least three years.
– Have graduated from high school by June 2012.
– Be or have been an active participant/volunteer in a community organization.
During the event, candidates will appear in both kimono and evening gown, and will participate in a talent segment.
For further details and an application, visit www.nccbfqueenprogram.org.