Standing out on the football field before the game against Rogers Heritage began, senior Brianna Gates is announced as the 2012 fall homecoming queen. This was not Gates’ first experience on homecoming court, but her third.

“It’s cool to know that I have support from my friends to be voted on all three years,” said Gates.

As a sophomore and a junior, Gates was voted onto the winter homecoming court. Her senior year, she was a maid on the fall court.

Before all of the glamour, preparation must take place. She had to wake up early, shower, and then have her hair and makeup done. Since she had to arrive at the school ready for the assembly, she also had to put on her dress and make sure she had any possible back up materials she may need. These materials include extra hairspray, safety pins, bobby pins and lip gloss.

“The hardest part of preparation was finding a dress in two weeks. Alterations usually take a week or two, and if they don’t have your size you have to order it,” said Gates.

Brianna is not the only homecoming queen in the Gates family. Her older sister, Kylie Gates was also a homecoming maid her sophomore and junior year, and was voted queen her senior year in 2009. Although Kylie left big shoes to fill, Brianna never felt any extra pressure.

“She never expected me do do it, but she’s proud that I did,” said Gates. “Our family is proud that we were both on it all three years.

Kylie has been with Brianna through the preparation process all three years, from picking out the dress, to the early morning prep, and to watch her walk at all of the games. Family has been her biggest supporter.

“I honestly couldn’t be more proud of her,” said Kylie. “It’s an honor to have such a beautiful sister inside an out, and for other people to recognize and acknowledge that is just a blessing.”