The 54th Annual Fathoms O Fun Grand Parade will take place starting at 6 p.m. June 24 in downtown Port Orchard.

Leading the way as always is the Fathoms Royalty Court, consisting of Queen Veronica Mihai, Duchess Miah Strombach, Princess Savannah Horsely and Junior Princess Hope Halady.

Visitors will have something to do all day long as the two-day summer crafts and vendor show begins, promising plenty of crafts, food and fun along the waterfront. The vendors will run through June 25.

Also happening parade day is the 21st running of the Hot Foot 5K race and one-mile race at South Kitsap Regional Park. The one-mile race starts at 8:40 a.m., followed by the 5K at 9 a.m.

For details, go to fathomsofun.org

Following is a little more about the royalty.

Veronica Mihai

Seven years of work with Fathoms paid off for Mihai, 18, who started that journey like many others as junior princess. She served multiple years as a duchess and senior princess before winning the crown in March. “I feel like this has been my dream since I was 12. Like, achieving it just feels amazing,” she said.

Her many years of service have helped Mihai uphold the standards for future queens but have helped her develop her own platform as well, which began as simply inspiring other girls to have confidence in themselves and their skills. While she is passionate about that message as a whole, her platform has since boiled down to “Mental Health Matters,” something she speaks about on a personal note. “I definitely struggle with anxiety a lot,” she said, “and so I think being able to talk about it to people and share my story, I feel like I can help people overcome what they’re going through.”

Her platform is as a reminder to what the true role of the Fathoms court is. “It’s so much more than just wearing a crown. We’re actually changing people’s lives and being out in the community. It’s very important to help people, and you should serve because it makes you feel good, not because you want something in return.”

Miah Strombach

Strombach, 16, was convinced by Mihai among others to join. It wasn’t easy at first, as she was nervous about her role. “They told me that I would be able to come out of my comfort zone a lot more, and I was a very shy kid,” she said.

She is over those fears now as she enters her fourth year, resuming her role of duchess that she’s carried through much of the coronavirus pandemic. Her platform focuses on “Inclusiveness in the System,” which is more about building people up who get lost in the big picture. Specifically, she talked about how schools should create more opportunities for students to be appealed to and get involved in their interests.

“Schools should be looking out, and students themselves should be looking out, for people sitting by themselves and people not having anybody to talk to or any friends,” she said. “People that are able to speak up more should speak up for the quiet people.”

Strombach defines inclusion as making everyone feel welcome and safe, something she tries to do when attending Fathoms events—whether it’s taking pictures with children or listening to stories of adults. It’s something that she works on within the royal court as well, and while there are disagreements they work to maintain a solid relationship. “I feel it’s like a sistership,” she said. “We’re all together, we laugh, we make the same jokes. We all dance and have a good time.”

Savannah Horsely

A junior princess in 2019, 17-year-old Horsely returned this year with the title of princess. It’s a freeing experience for her as she reflected on what obstacles prevented her from doing more as a junior princess than what she could do in her new role. “I have my own license, so I can drive myself places, and Fathoms gives me more opportunities because of my older age.”

Among her responsibilities helping other court members with events and volunteer work, Horsely said her favorite part involves being with kids. Her skills as a swim instructor in Gig Harbor with younger kids help her enjoy the time she has with them at Fathoms events even more. “Little kids get really excited when they see somebody with a crown,” she said. “It’s really fun to see, and I get a different feeling when I’m in the crown because they get a little more excited than if I just wasn’t doing anything.”

Horsely’s platform combines a contagious love for off-roading, and a necessity to protect the environment. “Make it look like you were never there in the first place, ” she said about her “Jeeping – Leave No Trace” platform.

Princess Hope Halady

Halady, 12, is the newest member of the court, a role that comes with the same nervous jitters her three fellow court members have experienced before. “Miah was the one that invited me into it,” she said. “She told me that it helps with talking with people. She also told me that we would do community things, and I love doing that.”

The platform Halady chose to run on was “God’s Love.” She said it is important to prioritize that in her community service. “I am a Christian, and I care about that a lot. It’s basically my whole life…and I feel like more people need to know about it,” she said.

Fathoms has given Halady the chance to express her faith. As she helps with various events, she uses her faith as a way to connect to people and also invite others to worship at her church.

She also talked about how she has come to form a strong friendship with the other royalty. “Like (Mia) said, we’re sisters. Sometimes we can be annoying, but also, we love each other.”