It may be October, and the weather outside may be getting cooler as the leaves start to turn, but some organizations are planning ahead for their annual springtime events, and one that is very dear to my heart is The National Conference of State Societies’ Cherry Blossom Princess Program.

The Cherry Blossom Princess Program is a week-long cultural and educational exchange program started in 1948 to celebrate the gift of the Cherry Blossom Trees from Japan to the United States, and since has continued the tradition of celebrating the friendship between our two countries. The program is sponsored by The National Conference of State Societies (NCSS) and takes place during the National Cherry Blossom Festival each year in Washington, D.C. It is focused on providing a cultural, educational, and professional development opportunity for young women leaders from all fifty states and territories. During past program weeks, the princess representatives have visited The Japanese Embassy, The Institute of Peace, the U.S. Capitol, the White House and met with their state congressional members. Princesses have learned about Japanese customs and traditions with kimono demonstrations, traditional tea ceremonies and participated in the traditional Japanese Lantern Lighting Ceremony among the cherry trees at the tidal basin. There is also a focus on professional development with an opportunity to learn from program alumnae during a women’s conference and other networking events.

Each year, the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen is selected among the class of princess representatives. Because each princess has been selected by their State Society based on their achievements and all the U.S. Princesses are qualified to represent the United States, it is the tradition of the program that the U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen is selected by the spin of a “Wheel of Fortune” at the annual Cherry Blossom Grand Ball. The program is not a pageant but an extraordinary opportunity for young women to represent their home state and celebrate our friendship with Japan and the gift of the cherry blossoms through this unique cultural and educational exchange program.

My personal affiliation with this program began in 2018, when I was selected to represent Virginia as a Cherry Blossom Princess and at the Cherry Blossom Grand Ball at the end of the week, by the lucky spin of the “wheel of fortune,” I became the 2018 United States Cherry Blossom Queen. I was soon on my way to Japan to represent the United States and celebrate the friendship between our two countries on a two-week goodwill trip. I met with the Prime Minister of Japan, the first woman mayor of Tokyo, the U.S. Ambassador to Japan, a member of the royal family, and several Japanese business leaders. It was the experience of a lifetime!

Since that time, I have volunteered in many capacities with this program, joining many returning alumnae and directors to reunite with our “blossom sisterhood” during the festival week. I’ve been an advocate for the program for the past four years because of the extraordinary opportunities and confidence it encourages in young women. Becoming “queen” was the cherry-on-top of a wonderful week I was already never going to forget, and I still keep in touch with many of the women from my 2018 princess class.

If you’ve read this far, I hope you’ll appreciate why I am excited to announce that the 2022 Cherry Blossom Princess Program application is officially open!

Princess representatives are chosen for their demonstrated leadership and interest in cultural education. To qualify, applicants must be born in the U.S. State or Territory that she will represent; or is an immediate family member (daughter, granddaughter, sister, or niece) of a native of the U.S. State or Territory she will represent; or is currently a resident of and/or has spent significant time (i.e., attending college/university) in the U.S. State or Territory she will represent. To be eligible, applicants must be unmarried women between 19-24 years old (as of March 30, 2022), and be a high school graduate, and be available to participate in the program in Washington, D.C., during the week of April 3-9, 2022.

If you know a young woman who is eligible, please share this article with her and encourage her to apply for the program. I will always be a proud advocate of the Cherry Blossom Princess Program and would be happy to share more with any interested candidates. For more information and application details, visit https://www.cherryblossomprogram.com/apply.