Why Miss R.I. won't be in Bristol

BRISTOL — Eight schools, seven color guards, six bands and two professional sports team mascots will march in the nation’s oldest Fourth of July celebration on Thursday. But there’s only room for one pageant winner in this parade.

Miss Fourth of July 2019 Jillian Fitting, accompanied by Little Miss Fourth of July Mekayla Neves, will ride on a float in Bristol’s 234th annual Fourth of July Parade, along with their respective courts. They are the only such titleholders allowed to participate in the parade, per Rule #3 on a list of 22 official parade rules. Rule #3 states:

“No entry and/or organization will be permitted to use their participation to promote the winner of a pageant/contest/organization. The current-reigning Miss Fourth of July, Little Miss Fourth of July and their respective courts are the only pageant winners allowed to participate in the parade. Any circumvention of the policy may result in the organization’s invitation being withdrawn.”

That’s why Miss Rhode Island America 2019 Molly Andrade will instead be participating in the 93rd Annual Ancients and Horribles Parade, which steps off Thursday at 4 p.m. in Glocester. She will be joined by Miss Rhode Island’s Outstanding Teen Caroline Parente.

Andrade, a Middletown resident, said she would have liked to spend the day in Bristol.

“Of course [Bristol’s parade] would be awesome to attend, but I understand their choice to only have the Miss Fourth of Julys in it,” Andrade said.

But she added that she was very excited to take part in the Ancients and Horribles Parade, known for its irreverent tone with satirical floats and costumed marchers along with traditional patriotic fare. “I was just crowned a couple months ago, so this will be my second parade,” Andrade said. “It will be a really great event.”

2019 Bristol Fourth of July Committee Parade Chair Michele Martins said she has been asked only twice by other pageants seeking to have their winners participate in the parade, once this year and once last year. Regardless of how many requests Martins receives, she said the answer remains the same.

“It would be 'no' right across the board,” Martins said.

The parade website describes it as a “civic, military and fireman’s parade.” Martins said organizers try to minimize any commercialization of the parade to stick to that core purpose.

“We try to really keep it to what it’s about,” Martins said.

Debi Simone, business manager for Miss Rhode Island America, said she knew of Bristol’s rule, so she did not reach out to ask Andrade to participate in this year’s parade. Simone said she has not yet come across this unique rule in other pageants, as Miss Rhode Island America titleholders have participated in multiple Columbus Day parades and some Memorial Day parades as well.

Simone said she understands that it is ultimately the parade committee’s choice when it comes to who to allow in and who to exclude.

“I think the Fourth of July is such a special American thing that they may feel it is more special to just have the Miss Fourth of July. I don’t know, I’m just guessing. I haven’t found that to be true so far from any other parade, but again, that could be why,” Simone said.

The Miss Rhode Island America Scholarship Pageant is a nonprofit charitable organization. Andrade is preparing to compete in the next Miss America pageant. The date and location have yet to be announced.

Bristol’s loss is Glocester’s gain. Tanya Botelho, chair of the Ancients and Horribles Parade, welcomes pageant queens to participate in the event.

“We are very excited to have the Miss Rhode Island organization there,” Botelho said. “It’s my first parade as chair, so to have them in the parade is very exciting, and we can’t wait to see them walking down our Main Street.”

— igentile@newportricom