BREMEN, Ala. – The 2024 Cullman County Fair Queen pageant was held at the County Fair on Oct. 8th and Cold Springs’ Avery Gerstman was crowned as this year’s County Fair Queen. Avery was excited to win the pageant and in this interview, she talked about her experience competing in this year’s event and how it has given her an opportunity to share her faith with others.
“I was so honored. This is truly a God thing. Never in a million years would I have thought this would be my reality. I am so blessed to have this title,” Gerstman said. “It was hard work. Luckily, I had a wonderful support system that helped me throughout the way. My parents were a huge help, and my coach, Julie Graham, was the best coach ever. She is like a friend to me. Countless hours went into this, and I’m so thankful I had a great support system to guide me through this journey.”
Avery has been competing in pageants since she was in the sixth grade and really started to get into them when she entered high school. She has gained so much from those experiences and feels blessed to have been around a lot of other talented girls with some of the same goals.
“I’ve learned that there is a negative stigma behind pageants. Many people are against them because of their stereotype. I’ve learned that no matter what, be yourself, let your light shine, and be confident in who God calls you to be,” she said. “It was so inspiring. I was with eight other extremely talented girls. We were all in the same position, and we were able to bond over that. We all had our nervous moments, but we were able to talk to each other and calm ourselves down. Me, Cassie Davis, Camila Guevara, and our amazing coach prayed with us before the pageant.”
Avery quickly became friends with two of the contestants during the pageant and feels blessed to have a coach like Graham in her life. She was shocked when she heard that she had won the pageant, and everyone was rooting on their friends, no matter what the outcome ended up becoming.
“Camila, Cassie, and I ended up being the best of friends during this experience. We bonded throughout this entire process. We became friends almost instantly. Mrs. Graham was so amazing. We all love her so much. She is such a blessing in my life. She brought out the confidence in me that I didn’t know I had. She is like a best friend to me,” she said. “My talent was an interpretive dance using ASL to ‘Will the Lord Remember Me’. All I wanted through my talent was if anyone didn’t know Jesus, they would know Him after my talent. If anything, that was my main goal. I wanted somebody in the crowd, even one person, to be moved by my talent and song choice. My reaction was complete shock. It was something I had worked towards for months. I felt so blessed to receive that title. I’m so fortunate to have an opportunity to share my story with many people. I’m grateful. I think we were all rooting for each other, no matter what the outcome was. We were all rooting for each other. I will definitely remember the friendships I made, and how closely we all were able to bond throughout this experience. It made it so enjoyable,” she said. “I hope I was able to show God’s love throughout this entire experience and show others they are never alone.”
Gerstman wanted people to see Jesus through her during the pageant and talked about a cause she supports that means a lot to her.
“I want people to remember the meaning behind the song, and I just hope they could see Jesus through me. I really wanted someone to feel touched. That was my main goal,” she said. “My CSI is ‘Shine a Light’. It is to bring mental health awareness. I have struggled with mental health for many years now, and I want everyone to know they’re not alone. I know that through this platform, others that struggle with their mental health can have a sense of relief knowing they are not alone. Mental health awareness in teens is something I’m an advocate for. It means so much to me. My goal is to raise awareness and shine a light on mental health awareness in teens.”
There were a lot of young girls in attendance at the pageant, and Avery wants to continue to be a positive role model in their lives. She shared some advice for any girls that want to compete in pageants as well.
“Being a role model for young girls is incredibly important. It’s an opportunity to inspire confidence. I want them to know that it’s not just about the crown. It’s about the experience and the message you portray,” she said. “I’d tell them to believe in themselves and embrace their Godly-given qualities. Focus on your passion, work hard, and always be kind. Confidence and kindness will shine brighter than any crown. I want them to remember that it’s not just about winning. It’s about growing and inspiring others along the way.”
God has played a huge role for Avery during these pageants and she shared one of her favorite Bible verses that she thinks about when competing.
“God has played a significant role in my journey through pageants, providing me with strength and guidance. My faith has been a source of comfort, especially when facing anxiety. Through these experiences, I’ve learned to trust in a greater plan, which helps me navigate challenges with more confidence. My Shine a Light platform reflects this by focusing on mental health awareness. It allows me to share my story and encourage others to seek support, showing that it’s okay to not be okay. This mission not only helps me cope with my own anxiety, but it also empowers others to embrace their struggles and shine in their unique ways,” she said. “One of my favorite Bible verses is Micah 6:8. I always want to walk humbly with God. I am only there because of the Lord’s saving grace.”
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