Miss Czech Slovaks represent their heritage on stage, across state

Miss Czech Slovak doesn't strut across a stage in a barely-there bikini or a glamorous gown to earn her crown.

Instead she demonstrates her knowledge of Czech heritage and culture in a handmade kroj - a traditional Czech costume - and flower crown.

'It's strenuous,” says Bonnie Rohlena, co-director of the Czech Heritage Foundation, which has sponsored Iowa's Czech royalty program since 2002. 'It's not just about beauty and poise. It's more about ethnicity and heritage.”

Miss Czech Slovak queens are expected to research their ancestors and represent their heritage in their kroj, which they often make by hand. They are judged based on their knowledge, their design of their kroj and their talent.

Janna Waters, crowned Miss Czech Slovak Iowa in 2014, spent countless hours tracing her ancestry to Eastern Bohemia, designing her kroj to represent the five generations of Czech-Americans in her family and practicing her talent - puppetry.

'It's not supposed to be based on how cute you are in your kroj,” Waters says. 'It's more substance over superficial.”

As for her knowledge of Czech history, she's studied it for almost 10 years.

In 2013, the Marshalltown native graduated from the University of Iowa. She's now a graduate student and teaching assistant at the UI in the department of Asian and Slavic languages and literatures.

She is also the founder of Czech Connection, a student organization that brings students, faculty and community members together to celebrate Czech heritage.

Usually Iowa's contestants are crowned in May, but Waters earned the tile in March 2014. She had five months to prepare for the national pageant in Wilber, Neb., where she would compete against 10 other women.

'We started planning the night after I was crowned,” she laughs.

Iowa has had two national queens, Lisa Volesky Parra in 2002 and Stasia Krivanek Fine in 2004. Though Waters was confident in her knowledge of her heritage, kroj and puppet show performance, she was not crowned Miss Czech Slovak U.S. She did, however, receive the Heritage Involvement Award, which recognizes her for her work in preserving Czech heritage in Iowa.

In her role, Waters serves as an ambassador for the Czech and Slovaks of the state by attending parades - including the annual St. Joseph's Day parade in the Czech Village in Cedar Rapids on March 21 - festivals and other events with her royal court. The goal is to represent the culture and share it with communities around the state.

'While our Czech heritage is really interesting and vibrant, it's slowly dying out,” Waters says.

Youth are becoming less and less involved. Both this year and last, the Czech Heritage Foundation has seen little interest in the pageant.

In 2014, Waters had just one other competitor. Ashley Pudil, the 2014 Czech Princess, had none.

Like Waters, Pudil, 18 and a freshman at Loras College in Dubuque, competed because she is 'invested in her heritage” and wants to preserve it for years to come.

'I love being able to share my heritage with everybody around me,” says the Cedar Rapids native. 'It's one of the things that makes me unique. I'm proud of my heritage and still take time to learn more about it.”

Waters' one-year reign will end on May 16, when a new queen is crowned at the Houby Days festival in Cedar Rapids. So far, only two women will compete for the title, including Pudil.

'I really want to serve as a role model, to inspire (my peers) to take an interest in their heritage,” Pudil says. 'I think competing in a national show will show people that there is a younger generation that really cares about preserving their heritage. It's something everybody should really embrace and be proud of.”

Applications for Miss Czech Slovak Iowa were due March 1, but because of low participation the deadline has been extended to the end of the month.

Waters encourages more women to get involved with the program.

To be eligible, applicants must be part Czech or adopted into a Czech family. Applicants must be unmarried and be between 18 and 25 to be queen, 12 to 18 to be prince or princess and 6 to 12 to be a 'Little Sister.”

Winners receive scholarships. But there are less tangible rewards. Waters, for example, says she's grown more than she'd expected as a result of the experience.

'I've just come out of my shell even more. My public speaking has improved tenfold and it has helped my confidence in everyday social situations,” she says. 'It's been a really fantastic learning experience ... It really will change (your) life.”