For generations, the Marysville Strawberry Festival Parade has marked the beginning of summer for families in the Marysville and Tulalip communities. The event is known for its colorful floats, marching bands, and festival royalty who greet thousands along the parade route. This year, Tulalip tribal member Mone’t Clemens stands at the heart of this tradition as the 2026 Strawberry Festival Queen.
Mone’t Clemens, a graduating high school senior, serves as an ambassador for one of the community’s most celebrated events. Her journey to becoming the Strawberry Festival Queen has been years in the making. Growing up attending the parade, Clemens dreamed of one day being part of the royalty court she admired.
“The first thing is growing up in Tulalip and going to Marysville to watch the parade,” Clemens shared. “Then seeing the Princesses and the Queen, that’s what first made me go, I want to be up there, and I want to be in that big red dress. As I got older, I realized it was more than just the dress, but being able to be up there representing who you are and where you came from.”
Achieving the title was a proud moment for Clemens, but it also required her to overcome self-doubt and trust in her abilities. “Growing up, I feel many people face a lot of good and bad situations, but for me, what I had to get over was not believing in myself,” Clemens said. “I tend to put myself down and discredit much of the work I do. So, I think it was finding in myself that I am capable of doing what I put my mind to. I can push myself and get the support I need to get what I want.”
Through her journey in the royalty program, Clemens gained a deeper appreciation for her role in representing both herself and the communities that shaped her. “Well, when I first wanted to do it, I didn’t really look at it culturally,” she explained. “But as I began my journey to becoming queen, I realized I am not only representing Marysville but also Tulalip. I think that helped shape my understanding that we, as Native Americans, can accomplish big things in a world that is kind of against us. And I think it shows that we, as Tulalip people, are powerful and can accomplish anything.”
This realization fueled her desire to inspire others through determination and hard work. “I hope to be that representation for the younger generation, someone they can see themselves in,” Clemens said. “Not like the standard. So, they can say, maybe one day I could be up there, and I, too, could achieve big things. I want to be that voice for my community by being queen. It’s not just a title, it’s an opportunity to inspire.”
Source: Tulalip News