History

Exact origination unknown, it can be traced back to the 1940’s. In the earlier years the queen was known as Miss EastSide Minneapolis or Miss East Minneapolis and the competition to become queen included a bathing suit competition and more closely represented a beauty pageant.

One past candidate in the 70’s remembers riding on the Grain Belt Brewery Float in the EastSide Parade.

The Queen and Princesses went out to other communities to participate in their community parades and festival events, proudly adorning their glistening crowns and banners representing EastSide Minneapolis.

In 1985 Miss EastSide became Miss Northeast Minneapolis. 

Tradition has always had a Queen and Princesses. The number of princess has varied over the years with two to three being the norm. sometimes they were also known as attendants.

In 2006 the Queen and Princess titles were changed to Miss Northeast Minneapolis Ambassador with two to three still being the norm.

Junior Royalty can be traced back to 1950’s when a Jr. Queen, Jr. Commodore, Jr. Princess and Jr. Vice-Commodore. Two boys and two girls approximately five years old.

Starting in the 1950’s the queen’s of various communities through out Minnesota including Miss East Side came together the third week in July to compete for the title of the Queen of the Lakes (Minneapolis Aquatennial). Northeast Minneapolis has had numerous representatives go on to win the titles of Aquatennial Princess and Queen of the Lakes.

Community Royalty Programs were at their peak in the 60’s, 70’s and early 80’s. Northeast Minneapolis was no exception, it was what you did after graduation, and it was a strong tradition.

As women had more opportunities to go to college the participation dropped off some. Times changed and college participation became the norm small scholarships were added as an incentive to both participate in the program and further their education. In 1998 the college scholarships became more substantial. In 2002 the Program became an official 501c3 Scholarship Program and is now known as The Northeast Minneapolis Royalty Ambassador Scholarship Program, Inc.

In 1998 the program board updated the program by making the focus of ambassador more prominent than the old fashioned beauty queens. The board felt it was important that the ambassadors representing Northeast Minneapolis had a good knowledge of what our Northeast community is all about. They wanted them to proud of Minneapolis. They also felt it was important they valued and honored their heritage as Minneapolis is so famous for. The way they did this was through requiring community service in exchange for a significant scholarship to further their education.