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Vote for your favorite mask in Charlie Crist’s Pinellas Homemade Mask Contest

Nearly 50 people made creative masks and shared them online. Voting for the people's choice happens through Tuesday.
 
Janna Kennedy Hyten created a mask that depicts a couple in an opera balcony and entered it in the Pinellas Homemade Mask  Contest, put on by the office of Congressman Charlie Crist.
Janna Kennedy Hyten created a mask that depicts a couple in an opera balcony and entered it in the Pinellas Homemade Mask Contest, put on by the office of Congressman Charlie Crist. [ Courtesy of the Office of Congressman Charlie Crist. ]
Published July 30, 2020

Face masks are just part of life now. In Pinellas County, they are required by most businesses. So to encourage people to wear masks, Congressman Charlie Crist and people in his office came up with the idea for a Pinellas Homemade Mask Contest.

“We’re very excited to give people the opportunity to be enthused about doing the right thing,” Rep. Crist said in a phone interview.

The call for the contest went out last week via email from Rep. Crist, asking for images of masks people have been creating.

On July 27, a week later, Crist sent another email announcing that voting had begun and included images of the 48 entries.

“Dear neighbor,” the email said. “Last week, we asked you to send in your best homemade masks you’ve created to help keep yourself and others safe during the COVID-19 crisis — and you delivered! My office received entries from across Pinellas that showed off the creativity, artistry, and resourcefulness this community is known for.

“Now the choice is up to YOU to choose the winner — click the image below to view the submissions and cast your vote!”

Voting ends on Tuesday, Aug. 4. To see all of the masks and to vote, go to crist.house.gov.

The entries run the gamut from simple and elegant to incredibly elaborate.

Aleisha Prather made a full face mask that looks like a bird.

Janna Kennedy Hyten created a scene of a dressed-up couple in an opera balcony, coming off the front of the mask.

Amy Ilic-Vope showed off her embroidery skills with an intricately woven pattern on her mask.

And Tia Lofton brought on the bling with her dazzling mask.

The winner will be announced on the Office of Congressman Crists’s official Facebook and Twitter pages. The top five honorable mentions will be announced in the email and on the website.