(Washington D.C. ) -- An Iowa woman has been crowned this year's U-S Cherry Blossom Queen in Washington D.C. Madeline McGarry of Jewell, Iowa is the first Iowa Cherry Blossom Princess to be crowned Queen since 1964. In June she'll travel to Japan on a goodwill mission. McGarry's parents live in Dewitt, Iowa.
McGarry graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's degree in Agriculture Communications and earned her Master's degree in International Agriculture from Oklahoma State University. She is a senior content manager at BarnTools in Jewell.
McGarry was crowned with the Mikimoto Pearl Crown. The crown was gifted in 1957 by the Mikimoto Pearl Company and each US Cherry Blossom Queen since has worn it for her coronation. The crown was is made of over two pounds of 14k gold and 1,585 pearls. It has a 6-3/4-inch base encircled with a band of ermine. Above the base is a coronet of pearls, gold blossoms, scrolls, and leaves.
Photo: National Conference of State Societies