'Military kid' crowned Lilac Festival queen

Josephine Ortega covered her mouth in shock.

Section:Gallery

Sat., March 25, 2023

Newly-chosen Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School walks to center stage to accept her crown at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. With the seven member of the royal court already chosen, Ortega was chosen as queen and the other six designated as princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Newly-crowned Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School stands at the microphone and thanks her parents on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. With the seven member of the royal court chosen, Ortega was chosen as queen and the other six become princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Newly-crowned Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School seated in the center, her royal court standing, left to right, Kate Spinden, Aidyn Whitehead, Maddie Champagne, Mercy Cummins, Lori Petroske and Kaitlyn Hawker on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. Seated, left, to right, are five of the seven in last year's court, made up of Princesses Ryan Ham, Velerie Dancel, Queen Janna Huber, Princess Megan Tallman and Taryn Frerichs.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Newly-crowned Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School stands at the microphone and thanks her parents on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. With the seven member of the royal court chosen, Ortega was chosen as queen and the other six become princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Newly-crowned Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School stands at the microphone and thanks her parents on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. With the seven member of the royal court chosen, Ortega was chosen as queen and the other six become princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Newly-chosen Lilac Festival Queen Josephine Ortega of Medical Lake High School is given the purple robe by Kim Johnson before she steps to the microphone to thanks her parents on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. With the seven member of the royal court chosen, Ortega was chosen as queen and the other six become princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
2023 Lilac Festival President Sam Snow, right, introduces emcee Jenny Power of KHQ news, left, on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Revi
Aidyn Whitehead, second from left, of Gonzaga Prep, stands at the microphones and gives her speech while the other members of the Lilac Festival royal court, from left, Kate Spinden (West Valley), Maddie Champagne (East Valley), Mercy Cummins (Shadle Park), Lori Petroske (Ferris) and Kaitlyn Hawker (Lewis and Clark) and Josephine Orega (Medical Lake) listen on the stage at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane Saturday, Mar. 25, 2023 at the annual coronation event of the Lilac Festival. The seven members of the royal court were already chosen and Ortega became queen. The other six were designated as princesses.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo