Photo by Alexandria Kimbleton Photography

ELKINS — 2025 Maid Silvia LXXXVII, Sterling Anne Kump, has inspired a sense of magical celebration for all the things our local forest reveals in its unique diverse character.

Sterling will descend Coronation Hill today wearing a velvet ball gown in a deep midnight blue. Undertones of teal are revealed as it moves in the light. Her bodice features an open sweetheart neckline edged with dark gold twisted bugle beads. The neckline is embellished all around with a garland of gold metallic leaves and vines. The entire collection of embellishments features various shades of gold from 14 to 24 Karat.

“I love the mix of the different tones as they sort of represent the variations of autumn light at different times of the day,” stated Connie Linger, owner of Miss Connie’s and designer of Maid Silvia’s gown.

Sterling’s gilt neckline is also accented with several large, faceted Swarovski crystals. Light metallic oak leaves reach down into the bodice, and one curled fern leaf points to her waistline.

The Basque waistline is just slightly dropped, and the “V” shape is edged like the neckline, with gold bugle beads. Flowing from Sterling’s waist is a flurry of golden tulle, crafted into a lightweight and airy peplum. The peplum further points down into the skirt and is anchored by a hoard of the gold metallic leaves. The leaves fall in and out of the folds as viewed from different angles.

Sterling’s sleeves are a simple fitted design with a slight bell shape at the wrist. Each sleeve features four tufts of golden tulle, adding another magical element. Each tulle tuft is edged by thin gold and copper satin ribbons which are tied off at the wrist with streamers flowing off. Each tuft is also anchored by two opposing leaves with a cluster of crystals at the center. The small bell sleeve is encrusted with a thick arrangement of the various leaves and crystals.

The full skirt of the gown features an arrangement of all the collection of golden leaves against a bit of the golden tulle. This creates a fantasy “tree” shape pointing up, while at the same time “lighting up the forest floor.”

On either side of the “tree,” two fern leaf sentries guard the scene, which then flows around the gown hem as a border of gold beaded lace, topped with metallic leaf and vine embroidery.

Sterling’s long train is anchored at the waist with the back of her peplum, flowing over the top two feet. The train features a huge arrangement of all the gold metallic leaves against a background of the golden tulle. “SILVIA LXXXVII” is embroidered onto a banner of gold jacquard, which becomes the punctuation for the arrangement. A vining tuft of the golden tulle trails up through the design, mimicking the tufts on the sleeves, but instead finish off in a twist inspired by fern “fiddleheads.”The train is bordered in the same way as Sterling’s gown hem, just falling short of the edge of the overflowing peplum, and with a turned in splash of golden fern leaves.

“This year I have allowed my imagination to wander into a glimmering gilt vision of a Queen of elegant royalty, such as we might see in a magical fairytale!” Linger said. “Hopefully I have inspired you into agreement of my vision.

“I give many thanks to my seamstresses! Sheila Scott for embroidery, headpieces, and working with the Flower Girls. Lola Collier for another brilliant execution of her Woodly design.”

Kump will be crowned Queen of the 87th Mountain State Forest Festival during the Royal Coronation at 2 p.m. today at the Citizens Bank of WV Outdoor Amphitheatre, located on the campus of Davis & Elkins College.

Attended by 40 Princesses from around the state, two Maids of Honor, and a Minor Court, she will receive her crown in an elaborate outdoor ceremony.

The 87th edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival with the theme “Embrace Nature’s Charm” will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5.

More information is available by visiting festival social media, www.forestfestival.com, or calling the festival office at 304-636-1824.