The entrants, each representing a community group or local business, met at Lanes Dam yesterday for an official photo shoot under the watchful eye of the judges tasked with choosing this year's festival queen.
Two of the three judges, Lesley Middlemass and Trudi Hull, described the 12 as "gorgeous girls" with personalities to match.
The princesses are: (back row, from left) Charlotte Stringer (18) for Central Otago WasteBusters; Ellie Trask (18) for the Alexandra and Alexandra Dunstan Lions Club; Nadine Ward (18) for the Alexandra Youth Forum; Leah Morait (18) for the Alexandra Rotary Club; Caitlin Lowe (17) for IceInline; Maddie Dykes (17) for Dunstan High School; front row (from left) Danika Gilbert (16) for Three Miners and Alexandra Musical Society; Rikki-Lee McLean (17) for Stadium Tavern; Bailey Sprosen (17) for Alexandra New World; Caroline Harmsworth (18) for Alexandra Men's Shed; Sarah Hutton (16) for the Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade and Kelly McCauley (17) for Alzheimers Society Central Otago.
Each princess will ride on a float built and/or sponsored by the group or business they represent in the grand procession down Centennial Ave on Saturday, September 22.
Festival event manager Martin McPherson said the girls' first official engagement would be the official opening of the festival's art exhibition on September 20.
