JERSEY SHORE -- It's not every day you see a pageant princess browsing the dairy section wearing her tiara and sash.
"The Real Seal symbol right here, the little red one, that means it's real dairy products."
Lycoming County Dairy Princess Olivia Paulhamus wants people to drink more farm fresh milk. That's why she met up with us at Weis Markets in Jersey Shore near her home.
Paulhamus was crowned Lycoming County's Dairy Princess even though she's lactose intolerant.
"I've taken this year to promote lactose intolerant dairy progress and educate people that just because you are lactose intolerant doesn't mean you shouldn't have dairy products in your diet," Paulhamus said.
So how can Lycoming County's first lactose intolerant Dairy Princess support something she can't eat or drink? Olivia says it's easy.
"There are plenty of lactose-free products."
She hopes even more lactose-free products will be in stores as people push for them. Olivia's favorite ice cream wasn't offered at her local Weis store until she asked them to carry it.
Paulhamus lives in a farming community in Jersey Shore. She heard about the pageant through her 4-H club. She entered the competition and won the title in June.
"I was the only lactose intolerant person, which was really strange and when I did my speech, you should see the looks that I got."
Shopper Linda Rieck of Avis supports what Paulhamus is doing.
"It's good that she's going to promote it. Because there are a lot of people who are lactose intolerant. My granddaughter is lactose intolerant," Rieck said.
Olivia says she'll continue to share her story with dairy lovers until her reign as Lycoming County Dairy Princess ends in June.
