In what might be considered Loveland’s toughest competition of the year, babies and toddlers in their Valentine’s Day best competed against one another for the ultimate title: Loveland’s Little Miss Valentine and Mr. Cupid.
As part of Loveland’s annual Sweetheart Festival celebrating Valentine’s Day, the contest kicked off at 11 a.m. at the Rialto Theater. Contestants ages 4 and younger were judged based on their costume and personality, according to the event’s guidelines.
The event’s emcees were Loveland Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mindy McCloughan and Miss Loveland Valentine Ellory Anne Bauersfeld, and the competition was judged by Ms. Colorado Senior America Terrilynn Moore Smith, City Council member Andrea Samson, Miss Colorado Gabby Gramont and Ms. Senior America Natalie Oliver-Atherton.
“This is probably the funnest time of year for us,” McCloughan said after the competition. “We ride for the brand around here because we celebrate Loveland and the sweetheart city.”
One-year-old Lumina Esquibel blows kisses to the audience alongside her dad, Manuel Esquibel. (Sharla Steinman/ Loveland Reporter-Herald)
The competition’s winners were Koa Bishop, girls 0-2 years old; Khloe Turner, girls 3-4 years old; Oliver Romero, boys 0-2 years old; and Liam LeClair-Brooks, boys 3-4 years old. Each winner was awarded $250 and gift cards to nearby businesses.
Some of Saturday’s competitors have a history in pageantry, such as last year’s winners, 4-year-old McKinlee Polston and her sister, 3-year-old Maylee Polston, who were back to share their love this year.
Their mom, Pierce resident Kylie Polston, said that participating in community activities, including soccer practice and pageants, allows her kids to enjoy parts of life she didn’t get to as a child.
“I’m from Rock Springs, Wyo. — a really small town. I never really got to do anything growing up,” Kylie Polston said. “With them, we go all out. All the pumpkin patches, every competition, and I handmake everything.”
Maylee and McKinlee left it all on the stage in their pink and purple, bedazzled, frilly costumes.
Last year’s Little Miss Valentine, four-year-old McKinlee Polston, shows off her glitzy purple outfit. (Sharla Steinman/ Loveland Reporter-Herald)
Other competitors, including 4-year-old Khloe Turner from Fort Collins, were new to the pageant world, but her big win Saturday might make her stick around, said her dad, Monquales Turner.
“Her mom got her costume all ready, and we’ve been so excited for a week or two,” he said after the duo came off stage. Khloe wowed the judges in a glitzy cupcake-like red tutu, bedazzled hair bow, and frilly socks.
The crowd erupted with cheers when winning 3-year-old Liam LeClair-Brooks made his way to the stage dressed as a mariachi singer playing the guitar. His white and red costume, paired with a sombrero nearly double his size, was inspired by his Mexican heritage, said his mom, Monica.
“I think he’s going to win,” his dad, Michael, said before the competition. “The (lessons) have been going good.”
Mr. Cupid, three-year-old Liam LeClair-Brooks, captivated audience members with his mariachi costume and guitar. His mom, Monica LeClair-Brooks, said the costume was inspired by her family’s heritage. (Sharla Steinman/ Loveland Reporter-Herald)
Loveland resident Gayatri Mandava said she felt pride for her 2-year-old daughter, Sitara Karanam, for getting on the stage, adding that they’ve been working on building her confidence by going to day care and therapy.
“It’s totally paid off, all the effort we’ve put in and the therapies,” Mandava said. “I am very proud, very proud.”
In her pearls and shades, Loveland’s very own, two-year-old Sitara Karanam, showed off her confidence to the judges. (Sharla Steinman/ Loveland Reporter-Herald)
