njohnsontampatrib.com TAMPA – At 4 years old, Vasquez is already a veteran of the Gasparilla Pageant as she posed, smiled and twirled for the
judges today in her second year as a contestant. But the real beneficiary of the events may be Locks of Love, a charity adopted by pageant organizers last year. Sims is hoping to top that total this year and anyone who wishes to donate hair can come to the convention center until about 7 p.m. today. Stylists from are scheduled to be on hand to help with styling and make-up. Donated hair must be at least 10 inches long. The charity uses four to six for each hairpiece that would cost from $3,500 to $6,000 retail and take three months to make, said Sylvia Huddleston, lifetime queen of the pageant and hair donor. “Every fourth year, I cut my hair,” she said.
In addition to getting donated ponytails, the pageant is aimed at making more people aware of Locks of Love.