BLOG: Meet One of Eagan Funfest's 2012-2013 Ambassadors

Hello everyone! My name is Elle Gilbert, and I am a 2012-2013 Eagan Funfest Ambassador. I am extremely excited for the year to come and hope to share some of my amazing experiences with you!

As this is my initial blog, I would first like to tell you a little bit about myself.  I am 16 years old and a junior at Eastview High School. I am an honors student,  and I love school. My favorite class right now is AP European History. I also really enjoy dance, and have taken dance classes since I was six years old. I take very class from ballet to breakdance. I teach dance as well, instructing kids ages three to six in ballet, hip hop and tap. I have three Shetland sheepdogs that I love more than anything. Their names are KG, Princess, and Pooh Bear. My dog passion leads me to another one of my favorite activities, volunteering with the Minnesota Sheltie Rescue. I also love spending time with my family, friends, watching sports (including my future husband Ricky Rubio!) and SHOPPING!

I am so incredibly honored to be an Eagan Funfest Ambassador. The night of the coronation was the most exciting night I have ever experienced. As a little girl, and like most little girls, I looked up to the Princesses in parades and on TV. I would watch coronations with my mom, wishing one day I could have a crown on my head. But I never knew that someday that would be me.

Fast forward to July 9, the night of the coronation … I stood in complete shock when my name was called, and the crown and sash were given to me. Every girl in my age division had undeniably worked hard and deserved the title. I am so blessed to have met these girls. I could not thank them enough for their encouragement to me and the others during this process. I am so glad I have this chance to inspire people of all ages, share this amazing city with others, and be able to step outside my personal box. In just a few short months since I was crowned, I have met so many new people, been to many places I have never been to before and experienced many new events. 

The first coronation we went to was the Hopkins Raspberry Festival. That was the first coronation where we had our crowns, sashes, and gowns and got to experience sitting in the “sparkle section” with other royalty. My favorite part about going to coronations is being able to show support for outgoing royalty and the suspense in selecting and getting to know incoming royalty (and of course being able to see the reaction on girls’ faces when their name is called and the crown is placed on their head)! I love the community between all of the ambassadors; it is like one big family. We know help each other out, even if it is just the little things, like remembering to put lipstick on or making sure each other’s crowns are straight and sashes are not twisted. After about the second or third event we went to, we already became friends with many of the other city’s royalty and began to joke around and poke fun at each other. It is such a fun atmosphere. It is not just about the crown, but truly about the woman wearing it. It is a place where support and encouragement come to fruition.

I know none of this would have happened without the continuous support and endless hours put in by the Eagan Funfest Committee. Throughout the candidate process, the coronation, and various Ambassador Events, the committee has been there putting in their passion and dedication to make everything seamless.  I want to say thank you to them for all their work.

I look forward to writing my next blog and sharing with you my different
experiences and what they have meant to me. I am beyond excited to see where the rest of my year will take me. I hope you will be there to experience it with me! Thanks for reading!

Elle Gilbert

Eagan Funfest Ambassador