Pascack Valley’s very own princess
Heritage is a main part of who each individual is. Many students in PV are unaware of their heritage and if they are, they may not be celebrating it regularly. To stay in touch with her Polish background, PV sophomore Nicole Misterek, participates in the Polish Princess parade.
Each year girls are nominated to become Miss Polonia or Jr miss Polonia to represent their Polish heritage. To prepare, the girls have to go to meetings to learn how to dress, act, dance and speak. The girls go through a crowning ceremony and then to a ball where they must dance in front of about 200 people about three months before the parade.
“Every year, since I was about five I would go to the parade and there were these beautiful women in gorgeous dresses that would wave at me. I was always in awe and I thought they were actual Polish Princesses,” Misterek said. “I always thought that it would be amazing to be that be that, but that I would never be able to. I ended up having the opportunity to live out one of my dreams.”
Many towns get together and participate in the Pulaski Day Parade in the middle of New York City where Jr Miss Polonia rides in a car for the parade. Misterek was nominated last year to be Jr Miss Polonia of Garfield, New Jersey by former princesses and was in this parade. This year, the parade will take place Sunday, October 2.
“The parade was the best part because I got to see little girls smiling up at me. I feel like I influenced them to stay true to their heritage,” Misterek said.
As a kid, Nicole’s family was always encouraging her to speak Polish, go to Saturday school and to cook Polish meals. When Misterek told her family about her crowing, all of her family members from Poland and her home were very proud of her accomplishment.
“Being a Polish Princess has given me more of an insight into my Polish heritage and I am very proud to be a part of this,” Misterek said.
