Isabel Sherman addresses the audience after being crowned Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — A new Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa was crowned Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, during the Old World Christmas Market at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library.

Isabel Sherman, a sophomore at the University of Iowa, will represent the state in the coming year at Czech festivals and other events. State queens go on to compete in the national pageant held annually in Wilber, Nebraska.

Isabel Sherman, center, pauses for a photo with her brother, sister, and parents after being crowned Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

A longtime member of the Czech Royal Court, sponsored by the Cedar Rapids-based Czech Heritage Foundation, Isabel is the daughter of Peter and Radka Sherman of Cedar Rapids.

Her younger sister, Grace, a member of the Czech Royal Court, crowned Isabel during the ceremony.

Isabel modeled an authentic kroj — a Czech folk costume — that has been passed down in her family during the event.

Candidates for Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa must be between the ages of 16 and 25, and of Czech, Moravian, Slovak or Silesian descent, and either be an Iowa resident or attend an Iowa college. Contestants are judged on talent, kroj modeling and interviews.

The crowning capped off a weekend of activities during the Old World Christmas Market, an event inspired by traditional European markets, which included sales of local handcrafted items, entertainment and a new pop-up restaurant featuring authentic Czech and Slovak foods.

See photos from the 2022 Miss Czech-Slovak Iowa crowning and more from the 2023 event, below: