Miss Florida Citrus is a Miss America preliminary, with the winner competing in the Miss Florida competition in June each year.
During her reign, Miss Florida Citrus serves as a goodwill ambassador and spokesperson, advocating for the Florida citrus industry, earning educational scholarships, developing relationships within her professional networks, and gaining indispensable life skills.
OUR HERITAGE
Dating back to 1924, the Florida Citrus Queen and Miss Florida Citrus programs have both been devoted to the promotion of the Florida citrus industry. Each year, organizers carefully selected a young woman to serve as Florida Citrus Queen, who became a goodwill ambassador throughout the state, the nation, and even the world. The Citrus Queen would reign over the Florida Citrus Exposition (later known as the Florida Citrus Festival) and even made appearances at the World's Fair. Florida Citrus Queens have also been photographed throughout the years with celebrities, dignitaries and even the President of the United States.
In 1983, the name of the competition changed to Miss Florida Citrus and the selection process changed from that of a more traditional beauty pageant to three days full of interviews, videotaping and showcasing media/communications skills – all judged by a panel of industry leaders. The winner became a full-time salaried employee and traveled extensively throughout the year. Miss Florida Citrus attended national conventions as well as conducted numerous television, radio and print interviews as the media spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Showcase and later the Florida Department of Citrus.
November 2003 signified the end of an era as the last Miss Florida Citrus was crowned.
However, the program did not remain dormant for long. Revival efforts began in 2012, and the first pageant was held in 2015.
OUR PRESENT
Miss Florida Citrus was revived in 2015 as an official preliminary competition to the Miss America program with the titleholder advancing to compete at the Miss Florida pageant in June each year.
Staying true to the program's roots, today's Miss Florida Citrus serves as an ambassador for the Florida citrus industry while also promoting her personal community service initiative.
Throughout her year of service, she may represent the program at events across the state and nationwide, including potential engagements in Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., Texas and various Florida communities. This local pageant provides meaningful visibility and impact well beyond its regional roots.
Caroline Schapansky, Miss Florida Citrus 2026, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in Disabilities in Society at the University of Florida. She serves her second term as Student Senator representing over 1,000 nursing students, where she has spearheaded and passed various pieces of legislation. She has launched a statewide professional development initiative supporting students with disabilities across Florida's 12 public universities.
An advocate beyond campus, she was invited to The Arc's Disability Policy Seminar in Washington, D.C., meeting with four of Florida's federal delegation to promote enhancement of HCBS Waivers. She has also championed the Charlotte Woodward Organ Transplant Act alongside Congresswoman Kat Cammack and is collaborating to implement the College of Nursing's first intellectual and developmental disability-focused curriculum requirement.
Founded from her lifelong passion for accessibility, her nonprofit, Through the Looking Glass: Encouraging Inclusion Beyond the Surface, advances dignity and opportunity for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a Team Lead for Young Life Capernaum, she has volunteered more than 2,000 hours and was nominated as a Champion of the Year candidate for North Florida Best Buddies.
A first-generation college student, she aspires to pursue a doctoral nursing degree and become a Family Nurse Practitioner, integrating healthcare leadership with disability advocacy to expand equitable access to care.
Executive Director Kristi Joyner is a volunteer, advocate, and mother of four. Kristi began her career in political campaigns and grass roots advocacy working on numerous successful congressional, state legislative and county commission campaigns. She spent many years as a community relations specialist for ASAP Prints before leaving in 2019 to raise her special needs son who was adopted through the state foster system.
Kristi has served in various roles throughout her community including the inaugural committee to organize the American Cancer Society Polk County Boots and Pearls fundraiser as well as a board member for Top Buttons, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization building self-worth in young women. Kristi is an advocate for children in the foster care system and serves on the Women’s Executive Committee of the Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church where she also teaches a weekly Bible study for young women. She also competed in the Miss America Organization winning over $30,000 in scholarships.
Kristi holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Warner University. She and her husband Matt reside in Bartow and have four children - Elisa, Annabelle, Mattie and Samuel.
