events 2008

Czech-Slovak USA Queen Ms Michelle Wiedel at the American Center

Czech-Slovak USA Queen Tours the U.S. Embassy

May 13, 2008

Ms. Michelle Wiedel, the reigning Czech-Slovak USA Queen, visited the Czech Republic, the land of her ancestors, on Tuesday, May 13. During her visit she toured the U.S. Embassy Prague with public affairs officer Alex McKnight, who introduced Ms. Wiedel to Embassy activities.  Ms. Wiedel also hiked up to the Glorietta accompanied by one of the Embassy’s Marine Security Guards to enjoy the beautiful weather and outstanding view of Prague. Ms. Wiedel finished her visit with a tour through the American Center, where the director reviewed the Center’s programs and services.

Ms. Wiedel represents a large community of proud Czech Americans, and this trip is part of her reward for being crowned  Czech - Slovak USA Queen.  She will also visit the Czech Embassy in Washington DC later this month.  Ms. Wiedel is chronicling her reign on her blog.

The Czech-Slovak ethnic national pageant was founded in 1986, with its home in Wilber, Nebraska, the Czech Capital of the USA. The young women who compete in the national pageant come from many states. Over the past years over 300 young women have competed and gone out into society as  "Future Ambassadors" to perpetuate the heritage, culture and traditions of Czechs, Moravians, Silesians and Slovaks in America and worldwide. Currently 9 states -- Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin -- have state pageants where state queens are crowned to represent their state at national.  Thanks to the efforts of Ms. Wiedel, Arizona will soon be the tenth state to host a pageant and send a representative to nationa.