ED FRANKS At left is 2018 Mango Queen Kayla McGuire with 2017 Mango Queen Jessica Potts.

The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce named Kayla McGuire as named Mango Queen for 2018 at its monthly card exchange meeting last Wednesday night at Cap’n Con’s.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be Mango Queen,” McGuire said. “I was born on Pine Island and have lived here my whole life. I went to Pine Island Elementary and I even remember as a little girl going to MangoMania and seeing the Mango Queen so I’m very excited to represent Pine Island.”

Kayla Camille Baker was born and raised on Pine Island and graduated from Ida Baker High School in 2011. Her parents owned and operated several businesses on the island while she was growing up.

Growing up on the island, Kayla and her family were always on the water, which intrigued her to go try her skills at captain’s school. Capt. Kayla succeeded and holds her “6 pack” OUPV captain’s license.

Kayla and Capt. Cory McGuire of Falling Tide Charters married last year and own a home in Bokeelia.

ED?FRANKS Diane "Greenwoman" Wickes, left, with Greater Pine Island Chamber board member Melissa Koferl. Wickes won the MangoMania adult T-shirt design contest.

Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Jennings, who was Mango Queen in 2003, said the choice was difficult but Kayla was a great choice.

“As Mango Queen, McGuire will be the face of the annual ‘MangoMania – Tropical Fruit’ festival,” Jennings said.

Every year the chamber holds an adult T-shirt design contest and a child’s T-shirt design contest as part of the MangoMania activities. The winner of the adult design this year is Diane “Greenwoman” Wickes. The students’ contest is run at Pine Island Elementary School and Meagan Kunkle was named the winner.

“This is the official kickoff to the 2018 MangoMania season,” Jennings said. “This will be our 22nd anniversary of Pine Island’s MangoMania – Tropical Fruit Fair. As you know, Pine Island is known for our mangoes but this summer festival is about all of the tropical fruit grown on Pine Island. The 2018 MangoMania Festival is a two-day event at the German American Club in Cape Coral on Saturday, July 14, and Sunday, 15.”

The German American Club is at 2101 S.W. Pine Island Road.

From left, Pine Island Elementary art teacher Mrs. Van Duser, Mango Queen Kayla McGuire and Kid's T-shirt winner Meagan Kunkle.