Royal Lessons: Torres-Gutierrez and Dunn Experience Life as Buffalo Royalty

The city of Buffalo offers numerous activities that students can get involved in, but for BHS seniors Erika Torres-Gutierrez ‘26 and Ameira Dunn ‘26, few have been as impactful as being a part of Buffalo Royalty, a program that holds a special place in their heart. Selected as royal ambassadors for the 2025-26 year,
Torres-Gutierrez has taken on the role of Miss Buffalo, while Dunn has taken on the role of Buffalo princess. What originally seemed like an opportunity to represent their communities quickly became a pivotal experience in their high school career that went far beyond local parades and tiaras.
When Torres-Gutierrez first joined the program, she did not know much about it, yet it had piqued her interest; as getting out of her comfort zone was important to her.
“I joined Buffalo Royalty because I had the social media team coordinator reach out to me a few times,”
Torres-Gutierrez said. “My friend was also really interested in
doing it, so I wanted to give it a shot; it looked really fun. I also just wanted to get out of my comfort zone, so I think that would also be a really big reason why I did it.”
Dunn also joined for similar reasons; she has found her
experience to be one that has improved many skills.
“Before I ran, I was usually more reserved,” said Dunn. “A
family friend who had been in the program encouraged me to try, so I decided to take the chance. Since I joined, I’ve grown a lot in my confidence and have become open to new
challenges.”
Many people often see members of the Buffalo Royalty at the annual parade in downtown Buffalo. This event is one that means a lot to Torres-Gutierrez, along with the Anoka
Halloween event.
“One of the biggest events we do would definitely be our own Buffalo Days,” said Torres-Gutierrez. “It’s a whole week where we will be up really early in the morning and possibly get home very late, and we’re just all over town. Another big event is the Anoka Halloween celebration. It’s very fun and we get to dress up. We get to decorate our float, and overall, it’s just really cool to see how the town celebrates, and also how other
communities decide to dress up.”
For Dunn, her favorite event is not one of a parade, but the Hopkins Wild Goose Chase.
“The best event I’ve ever done was the Hopkins Goose Chase,” Dunn said. “We had this photo shoot scavenger hunt, and it was so fun. We took so many photos, got to meet the Hopkins mayor, and had a blast running around downtown Hopkins doing their scavenger hunt. Afterwards, we attended Hopkins
Coronation, and then they hosted a Ball. We played musical chairs and danced all night long. It was a blast!”
Like many organizations, the Buffalo Royalty community holds many traditions that are unique to them. For
Torres-Gutierrez, the traditions that are focused on building a stronger community are ones that she feels drawn to.
“A tradition that we do is during coronations, when the candidates are about to get crowned, we interlink pinkies which I know sounds kind of weird, but that is just our way of saying good luck to every single girl and cheering them on,” Torres-Gutierrez said. “That was one of the first things that the older girls taught us during my first coronation as Miss Buffalo.”
The Buffalo Royalty program has a strong sense of community. For Dunn, one of her favorite aspects of the program is simply the people involved.
“The people I’ve met through the program have to be the most ‘girls girls’ to exist,” said Dunn. “The people are so nice and welcoming, and once you get to know everyone more, it feels like a party with them wherever you see them again.”
Throughout their time in this program, both of these royals have grown in numerous ways. Torres-Gutierrez has found herself coming out of her shell and
building strong relationships with others in her
community that she never thought she would have.
“This program has truly made me grow in ways I did not think that I could,” Torres-Gutierrez said. “I was somewhat shy before starting Royalty, but now, I love talking to new people, and I love just interacting with my community. Being able to be involved and give back to my community has really impacted me, and I’ve made so many lasting friendships that I would’ve never made if I weren’t in Royalty.”
For Dunn, a major aspect of being a part of the program is the opportunities brought forth that have helped her create an idea of what she wants for her future.
“This experience has helped shape my future goals,” Dunn said. “Through the program, I’ve had the
opportunity to speak with professionals like principals, business owners, the mayor of Buffalo, and nurses. I’m especially grateful for the chance to connect with nurses who helped guide me in understanding
different paths in healthcare. Overall, Buffalo Royalty has helped me grow personally and has supported my decision to pursue a career in nursing.”
Torres-Gutierrez emphasizes trying out Buffalo Royalty even if students are in multiple events; she
expresses that the activity is very flexible and
important for growth.
“Something I’d want to share about Royalty is that there are a lot of girls who think ‘oh I can’t do this
because I’m in so many activities,’ but both my
princess and I work, and I participated in around seven extracurriculars,” Torres-Gutierrez said. “I was still able to go to many events, and Royalty is just very flexible. It’s able to work, and I suggest that any girl who wants to give it a shot just do it because you’ll never know who you’ll meet or how you’ll grow as a person.”
As Buffalo days approaches, the reign of the current royalty will soon come to an end, but the
lessons they have learned are something they will carry with them forever. Anyone who is interested in the program is encouraged to apply to be a part of Buffalo Royalty next year and continue the program’s legacy. More information can be found on the Buffalo Royalty Ambassador website.