August 10, 2007
By Regina Hernandez

I had a great opportunity to sit down and have a heart-to-heart with the current Houby Queen, Kimberly Montoya, who will be passing along the Queen title to this year's winner.  I wanted her to give a first-hand account of her experience in last year's pageant to give future candidates a glimspe into what it's really like.

RH:  So Kimberly, how old are you?
KM:  21

RH:  Why did you sign up for the Houby Queen Pageant?
KM:  My boss mentioned it to me.  He’s like ‘Hey there’s an opportunity for you and I’m pretty sure you’ll be able to do it, and you’ll do well.’  I wasn’t too convinced, but then I thought, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a try’, I could find a talent, whether I knew it or not.  I gave it a try, I figured it be fun, a new experience, you know?

RH:  What was the most difficult part of the whole pageant experience for you?
KM:  Being the first one to come out and perform!  It was especially hard because at practices we only had one opportunity to present our talents, so we had practice a lot.  But it wasn’t too bad at all.  There were convenient schedules and everything for practices, so it was fine.

RH:  And the best?
KM:  Winning!  When I was there and they announced my name, ‘Kimberly Montoya’, it was pretty good!  Also, my question I got- I loved it.

RH:  Oh really?  What was your question?
KM:  My question was, ‘How does youth influence today’s society?’  Other questions I heard were kind of tricky and hard to answer, and I was the last one to answer, so I was there waiting and saying to myself, ‘Oh what am I going to get, what am I going to get?’

RH:  How did the Houby Pageant staff treat you?
KM:  They were always really nice.  They were always calling you to remind you of stuff, I liked them a lot.  I was at a couple of events and every time they saw me, they were so nice to me.  They were just all really courteous and helpful.

RH:  What was your talent?
KM:  I performed a Samba dance.

RH:  Did you come in with that talent or did they work with you…?
KM:  Actually, I did not know what I was going to do!  I was like, ‘Okay, I can’t sing, I cannot do anything else, I do not have any talents,’ but I always liked to dance, so someone was there to help me with the choreography and to choose the song.  Peggy Rose [the pageant coordinator/choreographer] helped me a lot.  It all came out pretty good.

RH:  Now, a lot of girls who have shown interest in the pageant hesitate when they find out about the talent part of the competition.  What would you say to those girls who just keep saying, “I don’t have a talent” and think that there’s nothing they can do?
KM:  Even if you’re just a good reader, you can read a poem, but try to read it nicely, with attitude or however the poem expresses itself, or just any kind of routine.  Anything, just go out there and have fun, and that’s what really matters.  Even if you’re not good at singing or anything, if you show that you try, and if you have a good attitude, that’s what they would tell me really counts, that’s what the judges look for.  Just look happy, smile all the time, and you’ll do fine.

RH:  I’m personally one of those girls who feel that I’m just not the pageant type, but what would you say to convince us to give it a shot?
KM:  Go ahead and try it, you never know what’s going to happen.  It’s a good experience, even if you don’t win.  Just being out there, and seeing your family all there to watch you is so nice.  And you know, I was the one that always said, ‘Oh I’m never going to be in a pageant, I’m not pretty, I don’t have a perfect body,’ and so on, but it’s not even about beauty, it’s just about putting yourself out there, meeting new people, etc.

RH:  I think that’s a really important thing to mention because I’ve seen the score sheets, and they don’t have anything on them regarding appearance, just ‘presentation’, which is really just about your attitude when you go out there, right?
KM:  Yeah, it really is just about your attitude and you being excited about the event and wanting to try.

RH:  What was going through your mind when they were about to announce the winner?
KM:  I was like, ‘Okay well, that was fun, maybe next year!’  I had actually already been thinking that I was going to try it again this year if I hadn’t won.  So, I’m waiting there, and they called ‘runner-up’, and it wasn’t me, and I was thinking that if I wasn’t runner-up, there was no way I was going to be first-place, but then, ‘Kimberly Montoya!’  Hearing that was awesome.

RH:  And your family was there recording you and everything!  How did they react?!
KM:  My mom was recording and all you can hear on the video, ‘Ahhh!’, because she was screaming and the camera was going all over the place, not even shooting me, she was just recording the ceiling!  She was so busy applauding, she forgot she was recording!  All you hear is her screaming to my little sister through the excitement.  It was so unexpected; I did not think I was going to win at ALL!

RH:  What did you win?
KM:  I won $1000 scholarship, which was great because school was about to start, so it was just in time.  I also won a watch, a lot of other goodies that businesses in the area donated, beauty supplies, and more.  We even all got little chocolate coasters with our names on them.  Then of course there was the tiara and the flowers.

RH:  What school did you use the scholarship for?
KM:  Northeastern Illinois University.  I had just graduated from Morton College and wanted to use the money to transfer out.  I used it for my first payment towards studying elementary education.

RH:  What was your most memorable moment of the entire experience, other than when you were crowned?
KM:  Just getting there before the ceremony, and you’re there with the girls, trying to get ready, hurrying up, getting dressed, asking the girls if your makeup is okay, ‘Oh girl, can you do my hair?’, just all the girls helping each other out was so much fun.

RH:  So it wasn’t catty or anything?
KM:  No, not at all.  Everyone was really friendly, and even now, I still keep in touch with some of the girls.  I’m even trying to convince one of them to try again this year and I think she just might because she really did like the experience!

RH:  What were you nervous about?
KM:  The question and answer part.  I mean, coming out and performing also made me really nervous, but once you’re out there and you hear the music, and the lights are all on, after a couple of seconds, you’re just having a great time.  Just waiting to be asked a random question from a hat made me nervous.

RH:  So what are you doing now and what are your plans for the future?  School, work, etc.?
KM:  You’re actually at my work right now!  I’m an office assistant at United Gasket, and I’ve been here for about three years, and I’m planning on working here until I get my bachelor’s degree and go out in the field of elementary education.  Part-time here, full-time in school.

RH:  Well thanks for letting me interview you Kimberly!  Will we be seeing you at Houby Fest?
KM:  Yes, of course!  I had a great time last year.  I had actually never heard of it until last year, but I’m glad I did!  I was like, ‘Houby? What is that?!’

RH:  Ah yes, mushroom-fest…
KM:  Ha-ha, yes, when I came back to work the next day, everyone was like, ‘Hey, welcome the mushroom queen!’  It was really funny and everyone was really happy for me.

RH:  Any last words for the possible candidates out there for this year’s pageant?
KM:  If I could, I’d do it again.  It was just really fun.  I would just say go ahead, do it, have fun, don’t be so nervous about it!  It’s just a really nice experience.  Everyone’s so nice, and you get to go to all these events afterwards.  I remember, not too long ago, I went to the [Cicero Chamber of Commerce] Annual Dinner, and they gave me the big check, and everyone was taking pictures with you, and they really recognize you for your accomplishment, and you really get your name out there.  Just try it!