Marcella Schmidt was crowned Ms. Oktoberfest 2011 on Saturday night, joining a long line of illustrious ladies who become the face of the much beloved event.
Not only does Ms. Oktoberfest serve as an ambassador during the festivities, she’s also responsible for a full slate of promotional activities designed to spread the word about Southwest Florida’s most popular celebration.
Schmidt, 21, said she was braced to take on the responsibility, and honor, of being Ms. Oktoberfest.
“Yes, I’m ready,” Schmidt said, just moments after being picked from five other contestants. “I don’t know when it all starts but I’ll be ready.”
Schmidt garnered near universal praise from the audience and her many supporters, who cheered wildly when she snagged the crown.
Jordan Kolbert, 21, Schmidt’s boyfriend, was happy she won.
“I should have a shrine built right here,” he joked.
Theresa Kohl, who organizes the event and picks the finalists to compete for the crown, said she was proud of the women that threw their hats into the ring.
“They’re all beautiful and they’re all winners since they made it this far,” Kohl said.
Schmidt’s work promoting the popular event will begin in August, according to Kohl, who applauded Schmidt’s victory.
But, Kohl was sad there could be only one Ms. Oktoberfest because all of the contestants were worthy.
“They’re all wonderful. They should all be winners but we can only pick one,” she said.
Schmidt has dual citizenship in the United States and Germany, and has been coming to enjoying Oktoberfest festivities since she was a child.
She posed for pictures with Ms. Okterbest as a child, so it was a dream come true, of sorts, to be on the other side of those childhood memories, only now in the role she used to think about.
“I’ve always wanted to do this since first time I came to Oktoberfest,” she said. “I had to wait until I was 21, but I’m ready to go.”
Kolbert, Schmidt’s boyfriend, said he likely will be by her side during all of the Oktoberfest festivities.
“I’ll have to build up my tolerance (for beer),” he joked.