The perpetual enthusiasm of the candidates for Aurora, Queen of the Snows of the St. Paul Winter Carnival recently inspired a subplot in a movie.
In Marisa Coughlan’s “Blue Eyed Girl,” the women are part of a Renaissance Fair princess troupe, but the Minnesotan was apparently inspired by the Pioneer Press coverage of the Winter Carnival candidates.
“I read the little blurbs about the various women that were part of this court — and they were so earnest about it! It was so pivotal to them and real,” Coughlan told a critic in Boston. “It gave them a sense of place, of belonging. It was a fascinating look into a character that needed to find a place — and found that to be their place. God bless anyone who, you know, finds their place in the world, right?”
The enthusiasm and earnestness continues with the candidates for the 2026 title.
“We have 12 impressive candidates this year that would all make awesome representatives of the city of Saint Paul and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival!” said Kara, candidate coordinator, in an email to the Pioneer Press.
So, ahead of the royal coronation on Friday, Jan. 23, at St. Paul RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul, let us introduce you to the 12 women with information from their official court bios:
Katelyn Bergstrom (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Katelyn Bergstrom, sponsored by River Hills Automotive
Bergstrom, who was born and raised in Northeast Minneapolis, has always loved the outdoors. After graduating from St. Anthony Village High School, she attended the University of Minnesota Morris, where she obtained her bachelor’s degree in anthropology and biology. She then went on to achieve her master’s degree from Bemidji State University in environmental studies, where she studied Black-backed and American three-toed woodpeckers in northern Minnesota. In her free time, Bergstrom enjoys kayaking, skiing, birding and spending time with friends and family.
Aspen Brenna, sponsored by Omodt & Sons Masonry, Inc.
Aspen Brenna (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
As a lifelong resident of South St. Paul, Brenna says she developed a deep appreciation for the “history and community” of the nearby Capital City.
Brenna, who earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Minnesota Duluth, works as a substitute teacher at an early childhood education center.
When she’s not working, Brenna enjoys cheering on the Wild or the Frost at Grand Casino Arena. She also likes to spend time at home baking, researching national parks and relaxing with a cross-stitch project.
Anna Day, sponsored by Bungalow Inn of Lakeland
In her bio, Day says that her Winter Carnival dream began as a teen when she met Aurora for the first time, “sparking her love for the celebration’s magic and tradition.”
Anna Day (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Day graduated top of her class from Nova Academy of Cosmetology as a licensed nail technician.
At home, Day is working on building her personal library, which currently has 1,300 titles. She also enjoys baking in her free time, which began in the kitchen with Great Grammy Alice: The two baked banana bread and joined the Great Cookie Bake Off, a 50+ year tradition.
Erin Gustafson, sponsored by Bernie Swafford at Edina Realty
Erin Gustafson (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Gustafson, a marketing and strategy professional with a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from the University of Minnesota, frequently volunteers to help nonprofits increase their impact. At home in Woodbury with her husband, she enjoys hosting game nights with friends, supporting Minnesota’s arts community, knitting handmade gifts and hunting for the Twin Cities’ best bookstore.
Christine Hanley (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Christine Hanley, sponsored by Northern Prairie Financial
Hanley, who has 18 years of honorable service in the U.S. Navy, is a 2024 graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences University and a 2015 alum of Winona State and now works as a chiropractor. Beyond her career, Hanley says she finds joy in life’s simple moments: dancing in her kitchen, paddle boarding, sailing and baking sweet treats. She also enjoys exploring the outdoors and hiking with her son, Landon.
Shannon Hitchcock (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Shannon Hitchcock, sponsored by Joe & Stan’s Pub & Grill
Hitchcock, an alum of the University of Minnesota, is a former cheerleader for the Gopher men’s hockey team. In her career, she helps others build their dream homes. Family, friendship, and creating lasting memories are at the heart of her life, she writes in her bio. Although she loves to travel, she adds that she “still hates to pack for her next trip!”
Stacy Johnson, sponsored by Party Time Liquor
Stacy Johnson (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Johnson once fulfilled a childhood dream by becoming a Walt Disney World cast member, an experience that she says “deepened her love for creating magic and helping others.” While she spent nearly a decade supporting adults with disabilities, she is currently focused on raising her family. A proud mother of three, she is a T-ball assistant coach and a passionate gardener who finds peace in landscaping. She enjoys long family bike rides, exploring new parks and planning road trip adventures.
Audrey Lee (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Audrey Lee, sponsored by Peak Spray Foam
Lee, of Maple Lake, graduated in December from the University of Minnesota Rochester with a degree in health sciences on the pre-med track; she hopes to pursue a career in women’s health and maternal care. She works as a caregiver at the Annandale Care Center. Lee, who held the title of Miss Maple Lake 2022-2023, serves as a volunteer board member with the Maple Lake Royalty Program. She also volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House. In her spare time, she loves spending time with her family (she has six siblings), spending time on the lake and reading novels.
Natalka MacDonald, sponsored by Quality Insurance Service
Natalka MacDonald (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
MacDonald is a proud mom, wife and foodie who loves lake life west of Faribault with her husband, Jeff. Along with decades of experience leading teams, organizing community events and volunteering, MacDonald says that her journey as a breast cancer survivor has “deepened her resilience and has inspired others with her courage.” She also cherishes her Ukrainian heritage and enjoys international travel.
Megan Madson (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Megan Madson, sponsored by Alary’s & Camp Bar
Coming from a long line of hockey players, Madson says she has always loved winter: “As soon as the temperature drops, you’ll likely find her in the stands at a Minnesota Gopher or Wild game,” her bio states. As a school counselor and aspiring principal, Madson spends much of her spare time writing her doctoral dissertation, but also enjoys going to local museums or live music venues with her friends. You can also find her enjoying time with her family at the lake, playing cards and competing in the annual cornhole tournament.
Stacy Martin (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Stacy Martin, sponsored by Landmark Jewelers
Martin, a longtime St. Paul resident and community volunteer who currently resides in White Bear Lake, works as an outreach and education specialist for the state of Minnesota, where she helps members understand their public pension benefits. Martin is not new to the Winter Carnival community, having served as Corset Crew Captain for the Royal Order of the Klondike Kates and as a board member for the Ambassadors of the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Martin describes herself as a “true chionophile — someone who loves all things winter!” She says she “thrives in cold, snowy weather and enjoys frosty mornings, freshly fallen snow and the peaceful quiet that winter brings.”
Nicole Fae Newman (Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival)
Nicole Fae Newman, sponsored by Fury Motors
Newman describes herself as a “community-minded creative, mentor and proud mom of two.” With more than 20 years of experience in the beauty industry, she’s a licensed cosmetologist, educator and founder of The Annex, a nonprofit that provides mentorship and education for women in the beauty field. She is also the author of “She Owns It,” a book that empowers women to build confidence and step into leadership. She serves on the board of ERAA Youth Tennis, coordinates local volunteer events and loves planning themed parties and family adventures with her husband, Bob, and children, Vincent and Eris. Known for her signature copper-red hair and joyful energy, she says she “believes in making everyday moments meaningful and helping others feel seen and celebrated.”
Info on the royal coronation of Boreas Rex LXXXIX and Aurora, Queen of the Snows, at wintercarnival.com/events/2026/royal-coronation-presented-by-hamernicks-flooring-solutions.
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