SAN FRANCISCO — The candidates for 2015 Northern California Cherry Blossom Queen were announced Saturday at a press conference in San Francisco Japantown.
The coronation will be held on the first day of the two-weekend Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival next month.
The candidates were joined at the press conference by the 2014 Cherry Blossom Court: Queen Kyle Tana, First Princess Alison Nishiyama, Princess Alessandra Dameshghi, Princess Kristin Matsumoto and Princess Saaya Sakurai.
Following are profiles of the 2015 candidates:
• Taylor Keiko-Lehua Davis, 24, of Stockton, daughter of David and Maryam Davis of Stockton. She graduated from Cesar Chavez High School in 2009 and is attending CSU Sacramento, majoring in nutrition and food, and dietetics. She expects to graduate this year.
Her ambition is to become a registered dietitian and counsel individuals with disordered eating habits. Her hobbies are cooking, crafting, dance, exercise, and spending time with family.
Her creative expression spotlight for program night will be softball.
Sponsored by Nikkei Lions Club of San Francisco.
• Nina Marie Myers, 22, of Stanford, daughter of Martin and Akemi Myers of Arvada, Colo. She graduated from Lakewood High School in 2011 and is majoring in biology at Stanford University. She expects to graduate this year.
Her ambition is to continue studying biological sciences and eventually work in medical-related research. Her hobbies are art, dragon boating, reading, studying Japanese, and traveling.
Her creative expression spotlight will be dragonboat racing.
Sponsored by Takara Sake USA Inc.
• Keiko Asako Sum, 22, of San Jose, daughter of Steve Sum of San Jose. She graduated from Monta Vista High School in 2010 and is majoring in industrial engineering at San Jose State University, with graduation anticipated in 2016.
Her ambition is to become an industrial engineering manager. Her hobbies are basketball, cooking and koto.
Her creative expression spotlight will be koto.
Sponsored by Benihana.
• Karine Brenda Worley, 19, of Santa Clara, daughter of Michiyo Worley of Santa Clara. She graduated from Santa Clara High School in 2013 and is majoring in computer engineering at San Jose State University with graduation anticipated in 2017.
Her ambition is to build new technology in the health-care industry. Her hobbies are cooking, dance, exercise, surfing the Internet, and travel.
Her creative expression spotlight will be cooking.
Sponsored by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California.
This year, instead of showcasing their talents on stage, the contestants will share their hobbies through creative video expression.
The Northern California Cherry Blossom Festival Queen Program is dedicated to mentoring young women so that they may develop service and leadership skills in addition to creating community connections necessary to promote not just stronger individuals, but also a stronger community.
Every April, a new group of young women is selected to become cultural ambassadors who will represent the Northern California Japanese American community by volunteering with various local community events and organizations as well as making goodwill tours to Los Angeles, Hawaii, Washington and Japan over the course of a year.
The coronation will be held on Saturday, April 11, at the Sundance Kabuki Cinemas, 1881 Post St., San Francisco. Doors open at 5 p.m.; program begins at 6 p.m. Attire: Business casual to semi-formal.
Tickets are $25. Floor and balcony seating available (balcony reserved for guests 21 and older; photo ID required at the door). For more information, visit www.nccbfqueenprogram.org/. For information on the Cherry Blossom Festival, visit http://sfcherryblossom.org.