A princess becomes queen

Always a princess and never a queen will not be the motto for Brianna Martin.

After serving a year on the 2006 Fathoms o’Fun Royalty Court as first princess, 18-year-old Martin decided she’d make a run for the big crown.

“I thought I’d give it a try, and hoped it will happen,” said Martin on Monday, just two days into her reign as the 2007 Fathoms Queen.

Martin didn’t just earn the crown Saturday night, but most of the possible awards, including talent, evening wear, both written and oral essays, and for selling the most buttons and the most tickets.

Her first public appearance as queen will be the Seagull Calling Contest May 5, a homegrown event that she and her fellow court members excelled at last year by attracting the most birds.

Martin is joined on the royalty court by princess Rachelle Jensen, and, in what she described as a Fathoms’ first, prince Alan Johnson.

“No male has ever made it on the court,” said Martin, adding that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the festival, and she was looking forward to having a prince on the court. “It will be different.”

Pageant Director Kim Martin said that Johnson won the award for “impromptu question,” and that contestant Kerri Rivers earned “miss congeniality.”

Martin is a senior at South Kitsap Christian School, and the daughter of Pastor Tracy and Kim Martin. She is sponsored by Dr. Dustin Wolf of Chiropractic Health Care.

Jensen is a 17-year-old South Kitsap High School junior and the daughter of Carl and Helene Jensen. She is sponsored by Kitsap Bank.

Johnson is an 18-year-old SKHS junior, and the son of Russ and Sharon Johnson. He is sponsored by Ron Rada and Edward Jones.

The newly elected court will also be featured in the festival’s 40th grand parade, whose theme is “Royalty O’ the Sea.” The parade begins at 6 p.m. on June 30, in downtown Port Orchard.

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