Mom Loses Homecoming Crown, but She’s Still Queen of the House

She’s not a queen, but Veronica Velasquez is still a princess bride at her Ojai high school.

Velasquez, 18, was named a senior princess along with three other young women during halftime ceremonies at Nordhoff High School’s annual homecoming football game Friday. Unlike the others, Velasquez is married and has a 3-year-old child.

Ventura County officials say Veronica--who wed her husband, Rony, and had a child when she was 14--may be the first teen-age mother in the area to be voted a homecoming princess.

On Friday, Velasquez was not thinking about her distinction as the county’s only princess bride. She was sizing up her loss as homecoming queen to classmate Alison Kerr, 17.

“I’m really excited, but sad too,” said Velasquez, after Kerr’s name was announced as queen. “In a way, I’m kind of relieved I didn’t win, because I’m so nervous.”

Her husband and daughter, Melanie, were in the stands to see her receive the honors Friday. But Velasquez said she would not attend tonight’s homecoming dance.

Instead, she will be tucking Melanie into bed.