On the surface, when Princess Keira Noble thinks about the 1980s, ideas of neon colors and classic rock music come to mind, but something resonates deeper within her on a more personal level.
For Noble, the ’80s remind her of her mother’s youth, stories shared from mother to daughter about growing up during that time, and how her mother is sometimes reminded of that season when she looks at her daughter.
“She is one of my many role models and it grounds me to remember that even the most amazing of women in my life was a teen just like me, surrounded by big hair, loud music and bright neon leotards,” Noble said.
Noble’s parents are Dan and Jenyn Noble, and she has two brothers, Nathaniel and David. She is homeschooled.
The 18-year-old invests time volunteering with Lebanon Youth Peer Court, Lebanon Calvary Chapel worship team, Willamette Manor (an assisted living facility) and Dala’s Blue Angels.
These organizations reflect her care for people and justice after experiencing a traumatic moment in her own life. After being assaulted three years ago, Noble said she lost her friends and found herself having to “create a new normal,” building new relationships and strengthening the ones she had with God and family.
One of those new relationships was with Dala Johnson, founder of Dala’s Blue Angels.
Johnson, Noble said, works hard for what matters and for who matters.
“She saw me at my lowest and saw in me potential I never thought possible, she distilled in me contagious confidence that I can not help but want to spread to those around me. Thank you, Dala Johnson.”
Today, Noble is using her experiences to forge a path that will make a difference in her community, and being a Strawberry Princess is a part of that process.
“It is not so much the crown, but the doors that are open for me to be of help, to share my experiences and have humbling conversations along the way,” she said. “I made a vow when I
was younger that I would be the person I needed most when I was at my lowest. Now, does
Keira Noble need a princess? No, she needed someone to hear her and provide a willing, helping heart – much of what inspires me today.”
On her creative side, Noble enjoys music and art. She plays guitar and is worship leader at her church, and uses paint to decorate the windows at Willamette Manor and brighten the faces of children at events.
But something that not a lot of people know about her is that she’s trained in Brazilian Gracie
Jiu-jitsu, boxing and kickboxing. In fact, she competed in those sports for eight years since she was 8 years old. Today, she might be found teaching a small class or helping alongside her church’s security team.
Noble finds that what she appreciates most about Lebanon is all the connections she’s developed over the years – all the people she connected with through schools, sports, church and volunteer opportunities.
“My connections and company have expanded and distilled in me a confidence to continue to
make such connections later on in life,” she said.
Yet Noble recognizes that one of her most challenging hurdles in life is to not just go through the motions.
“I do not want to go through my life as if it is just yet again, another day,” she said. “I want to be in the now, not lose sight of why I am passionate about what I am doing. If my heart is not behind it, then I’m not doing it for the right reasons.”
And what she’s passionate about circles back to the experiences she’s been through these past few years. As such, she finds herself passionate about raising awareness regarding abuse. More particularly, she wants to see the fulfillment of mandatory sentencing in the justice system to those who commit violent criminal crimes – giving “just consequence to their inexcusable actions, rather than leniency laid on their sentence.”
Still, she leans back into the foundation that gives her peace – her faith in God. She references the Bible to unearth God’s love letter to the world. She finds open arms and the true meaning of love in him. If she could visit any place in the world, it would be Israel. And if she could have dinner with one person, it would be Jesus.
Noble’s favorite part of the Strawberry Festival is working behind the scenes. For the past few years, she helped volunteer as a vendor offering fresh-dipped strawberries for the carnival-goers.
“Something about being part of someone’s fun experience always motivates me to do more,” she said.