Meet the New Cherry Queen Ainslee Hewitt
What was the most meaningful lesson you learned participating in this year’s National Cherry Queen Program?
To be present in the moment. It may seem simple, but in today’s world, we often find ourselves chasing what’s ahead, constantly being focused on the next moment, step or adventure. There is beauty in the art of noticing.
Being a final four contestant, I knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Yes, there would be a crowning of a new queen at the end of the week, but I had seven days to be in the moment, and that’s precisely what I did.
Being more present in the moment allowed me to notice a new side of our festival. For example, during the concerts, while many were connected through music and the artist, I saw a veteran tearing up because he felt so moved by the lyrics of a song. During the Princess Tea, I witnessed little girls gleaming with smiles as their fairytale dreams came true, because to those little girls, they had met a real princess. Seeing people from around the world visit the place I was blessed to call home for 20 years and experience the magic that I did growing up was truly exhilarating.
What led you to become involved with Traverse City’s Cherry Queen Tradition?
Besides having a heart full of cherries and being born in the Cherry Capital of the World, the cherry culture has surrounded me since I was a young child. I remember wearing my mother’s delicate tiara around the house as a little girl. I swirled in my Cinderella dress, my vision becoming faint as I practiced my princess wave in the mirror, which stood tall, just as I wanted to be like my mom, Mitzie Mckay Hewitt, the 1991 National Cherry Queen. Sure, you can call it a legacy that led me to be involved in the tradition, but as I grew older, I was surrounded by farmers whose toil I respected, and a desire to serve a community that shaped me into the woman I am today. We are capable of so much more than what our mind thinks. I saw this as an opportunity to grow and push myself in ways unimaginable.
What do you hope will be the broader impact of The National Cherry Festival?
I hope that those attending the festival will have a better understanding of the festival’s purpose and what we represent. It is a privilege to hold the title of being the Cherry Capital of the World. Our farmers have worked relentlessly, despite facing numerous challenges, in an industry that promises uncertainty. The National Cherry Festival promotes and celebrates our agricultural heritage, as well as our farmers, and that will always be what the National Cherry Festival stands for. During this week and always, let us be the light that guides our farmers in times of uncertainty, showing them that we are here and that we support them.
Ainslee Hewitt is the 2025-2026 National Cherry Queen. She is the daughter of Kipp and Mitzie Hewitt of Traverse City and a 2023 Traverse City West Senior High School graduate. She is a junior at Adrian College, majoring in exercise science and preprofessional health studies with a minor in biochemistry. Connect with Ainslee on social media! Instagram: @national_cherry_queen Facebook: National Cherry Queen
