A white sash across his chest and a red embellished gold crown resting on top of Jermaine Hayden’s head confirms his crowning as Homecoming King. Hayden smiles as he faces the crowd erupting in cheers. The quick shift from the nervousness of walking with Homecoming Queen Ainsley Pinkerton to the turning to face an enthusiastic crowd in Butler’s stands leaves Hayden stunned.

Hayden described the enthusiastic reaction of the crowd to his crowning as one of his most memorable moments from his senior year.

“We did some interviews after, and then we started dancing with the cheerleaders which was a ton of fun,” Hayden said.

Hayden reflects on how affirming it was when he turned around and was met with cheers from the home side of Butler Stadium, even including some parents he didn’t know.

“You can see other people doing a lot as well and then you start to doubt yourself, so I felt better when I saw everybody clapping in the stands,” Hayden said.

Hayden campaigned with the intent of having fun and did not expect to actually win. He created posters that he hung in the hallways and classrooms. He also made stickers with his face on them to pass out to others, which was a popular strategy.

“I was passing out 300 stickers and I ran out before the end of lunch,” Hayden said.
“Everybody wanted a sticker. I guess people just love stickers.” 

Hayden also looked for students sitting alone in the hallways during lunch. He introduced himself and persuaded them to vote for him.

“I would really just go talk to them,” Hayden said. “I had a bag of candy that I passed out to random kids who I knew didn’t have a clique yet. I made sure they were having a good day, and I explained why they should vote for me.”

Hayden explained to students that he believes he is a great representative of what Bellaire High School stands for. Hayden is featured on the school’s Instagram, featured in a one-liner video for reminders on school etiquette, emceed a Hispanic Heritage Month program and has been involved in the performing arts, even being featured on the cover of the Three Penny Press March 2023 issue. Hayden states that he is always willing to help when needed to aid the Bellaire community. 

Hayden’s decision to start a campaign was also motivated by his older brother’s crowning of Homecoming King at Hayden’s old high school in Missouri, Holt High School. 

“I have always looked up to him, and I thought that if he could do it, I could do it,” Hayden said.

Hayden motivates students to be themselves and to chase what they love. 

“Be kind to people, and do what you want to do,” Hayden said. “That’s why I moved here to Houston–to be a part of the performing arts that Missouri lacked. Do what you love, and just have fun with it.”

Eyes fixed on the grass, nerves alive and full of energy.

“And our 2023 Homecoming Queen is…” 

Time freezes. 

As senior Ainsley Pinkerton walks mouth wide open to accept her crown from Principal Michael Niggli on Oct. 21 at Butler Stadium, she is in shock.

 “I genuinely froze,” Pinkerton said. “I didn’t know if I should cry, or jump up and down. I didn’t know what to do. I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised like that.” 

Pinkerton represented softball as the 2023 senior Homecoming Queen. She competed against representatives from cheerleading and Belles, so, coming from a team only 1/4 the size of Belles, Pinkerton said the competition was tough. 

“[Cheer representative] Tyla Robinson took campaigning to another level,” Pinkerton said.

Robinson brought wings for voters and raffled a concert ticket. 

“I saw that and backed off a little bit,” Pinkerton said. “I put it into fate’s hands. If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.” 

Pinkerton was unsure of a victory and would’ve been satisfied placing in the top four finalists after the first round of elections. 

“Expect to be disappointed and you won’t be really disappointed,” Pinkerton said, quoting Spider-Man: No Way Home. “I accepted that I was going to lose, but I didn’t really know.”

Pinkerton said her opponents’ hard work motivated her to keep pushing.

“They were working hard for their campaign, so I’m gonna put in the same amount of work.” Pinkerton said.

Pinkerton used campaigning tactics such as distributing candy and cookies and placing posters in the school cafeteria and hallways. Trying to widen her playing field and make her name known, she targeted all departments of Bellaire: theater, fine arts and clubs, shifting her attention toward people she wasn’t familiar with.

“I just tried to be nice and talk to everyone and see what happened,” Pinkerton said. “But campaigning is exhausting. School was placed on the backburner for a second and there were a lot of late nights.” 

Pinkerton also received support from people such as her freshman sister, Reagan Pinkerton, who spread the word within her classes and gained votes for her sister. Pinkerton hopes people will look back and remember she won as queen. To her, this win signifies a different and inspiring way to be a leader in the school. 

“I try to be involved in as many things as possible and be a leader in those things,” Pinkerton said.

After failing her junior year at an attempt for Junior Duchess, Pinkerton said her competitive side wouldn’t let her sit back and watch as other candidates ran this year. 

“I came back this year and I won, so it gives me more confidence to just put myself into more situations and not be as afraid of failure,” Pinkerton said. 

She thinks failure is needed in order to succeed, and she will take this as a learning experience when entering college. 

”Now, I won’t be scared to dip my toes in other things,” Pinkerton said.

Pinkerton encourages other students to not be afraid of failure, do as much as possible and not take the time available in high school for granted.

“It doesn’t hurt to run, it doesn’t hurt to lose,” Pinkerton said. “It felt like I was a freshman yesterday in my room during COVID. It’s cheesy, but stay young. Don’t try to grow too fast. You’re still a kid–we still have adults teaching us. Don’t be afraid of failure. Who cares?”