New U.S. citizen crowned Ms. Oktoberfest
It has been quite a week for Christine Blasses.
Last Tuesday, Blasses took her oath to become a United States citizen.
On Saturday, Blasses was given a sash and crown as she was named the 2026 Ms. Oktoberfest at the German-American Social Club in Cape Coral.
Blasses is now the face and voice of one of the largest events in Cape Coral, taking place this year on Oct. 16-18 and 23-25.
Blasses said she was surprised when she heard her name called.
“I was in shock. The other two contestants did a fantastic job. They sounded flawless when they answered the questions,” Blasses said. “I felt I was stumbling more.”
Blasses was born and raised in Bavaria and moved to the U.S. a few years ago. She joined the GASC about seven years ago and began to volunteer there. For her, the club is her home away from home.
“This is my home, my heart in the community. I became a U.S. citizen this week and I was so honored to finally become one,” Blasses said. “I want to contribute to the club as much as I can. I was hoping by becoming Ms. Oktoberfest, I can encourage others to join our club as well, especially the next generation.”
Sara Skorak said goodbye to the crown she wore over the past year. During the last Oktoberfest, Skorak said she took more than 125,000 steps and did the Chicken Dance more times than she could count, but relished her time as royalty.
“It was so much fun to meet all the people, go to our community events, and share our German traditions,” Skorak said. “It was an honor and a privilege to have this role.”
Skorak will join the ranks of the former Ms. Oktoberfests who have helped make the event a success all these years.
That includes Angela Teleweck, who was Ms. Oktoberfest in 1998 and who now runs the pageant. She said she is trying to get younger women to sign up for the event.
“We want to keep the club growing as the city grows and becomes more family oriented,” Teleweck said. “We want our Ms. Oktoberfest to do a lot of advertising for the club and to keep Oktoberfest great.”
The event went about the same way it usually has. The contestants were escorted to their seats. Host Steve Eichner gave the three contestants two questions.
Unlike in years past, both questions were known in advance. “What was their favorite Ms. Oktoberfest memory?” and “Why did they want to become Ms. Oktoberfest?”
Blasses, who works in realty for a living, aced both questions and was named the winner by the judges and those in attendance, who got a part in the voting process.
Also competing were Paola Centti and Mara Kilpatrick. Centti, who participated in the pageant last year, said everyone there had the spirit of Oktoberfest.
“Everybody cheered for everyone. People invested time to make this happen. I love this. I want to see if I compete again. I have plans to do it,” Centti said.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com