See the candidates for Shrimp Queen at the 95th annual Biloxi Blessing of the Fleet

Eight young women compete for the royal title of Shrimp Queen at this year’s Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival.

The winner will be crowned at the Croatian-American Heritage Center in downtown Biloxi at 6 p.m., immediately following a Mass service.

Candidates must have family heritage tied to the Gulf Coast seafood industry. They must be 16 to 19 years old, attend a local high school or be enrolled in a college.

A panel of three judges will score contestants based on a required project exploring the contestant’s family history to that of the seafood industry. They will also be judged based on their presentation and for securing sponsors and selling ads.

The candidate named queen will win a sash, a pendant, a trophy and $2,000. First alternate will win a trophy and $1,000, second alternate will win a trophy and $600 and third alternate will win a trophy and $300.

Other titles, like Miss Congeniality and Miss Seafood Heritage, will also be awarded with cash incentives.

Shrimp Queen is not a title awarded based on beauty, an organizer of the event said.

The candidates

Baylie Gollott-Ho is a 16-year-old student at St. Patrick Catholic High School. She’s sponsored by C. F. Gollott and Son Seafood.

Allyssa Rosetti is a 17-year-old D’Iberville High School student. She’s sponsored by Quality Poultry and Seafood.

Bridgette Mitchell is a 17-year-old student at D’Iberville High School. She’s sponsored by Taranto’s Seafood.

Lillyana Baker is a 17-year-old student at Ocean Springs High School. She’s sponsored by the fishing vessel King Arthur.

April Delfabro is an 18-year-old student at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She’s sponsored by the fishing vessel Saint Andrew.

Kadie Harris is an 18-year-old student at the University of Mississippi. She’s sponsored by Gulf Pride Enterprises.

Jillian Raye Page is a 19-year-old student at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She’s sponsored by Killer Crab and Seafood.

Kaitlyn Parker is a 19-year-old student at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She’s sponsored by Fair Maiden Seafood.

Shrimp King

The royal title of Shrimp King title goes to a member of the community with good character who’s been in the seafood industry for at least 20 years.

Shrimp King 2024 is Biloxi resident Van Bat Pham. He was born in South Vietnam and immigrated to the Gulf Coast in the ‘80s, where he went to work as a fisherman, like his father. He also founded a restaurant in Alabama, called Saigon Noodle House. He operates a fishing boat called “Lucky One.”

About Blessing of the Fleet and Shrimp Festival

This year’s marks the 95th annual Blessing of the Fleet . It’s an event sponsored by the city of Biloxi, Harrison County and St. Michael’s Catholic Church that blesses shimpers and pleasure boats in attendance with protection and safety for the coming shrimp season. A service will also honor those who’ve died in the fishing industry.

Prizes are awarded to the best decorated boats. A prize of $2,000 is awarded to first place, $1,000 goes to second place and $500 goes to third. $500 will be given as a participation prize to one working boat and $300 will be awarded to the best decorated pleasure boat.

Here’s a rundown on the Blessing of the Fleet event timeline:

• Mass honoring fallen fishermen at St. Michael’s Church at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3.
• Blessing Mass at St. Michael’s Church at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.
• Coronation of the King and Queen at the Croatian-American Cultural Center at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 6.
• Blessing of the Fleet in the Biloxi Channel (boats parade from West to East) on Sunday at noon.