Fostoria “Snow Queen” Only Sexist?

Editor/Publisher: Joshua Tolento, Tolento Media Group
Published November 25th, 2025

Imagine a “Men Only” Snow King Contest – Now Explain Why the Current One Isn’t Sexist

Every year, the city of Fostoria, Ohio, crowns a “Snow Queen” in a community celebration that draws hundreds of votes and plenty of local pride. On November 25, 2025, the Fostoria Review Times happily announced that Biola Villarreal had won the title for 2025, beating out two other female nominees in a vote that garnered an impressive 1,358 participants. The crowning ceremony is set for November 26 at the Fostoria Learning Center, and the public is invited.

It’s wholesome small-town Americana… except for one glaring detail: only women are eligible.

For decades, the Snow Queen contest has been exclusively female. Men are not nominated, do not appear on the ballot, and cannot win the crown. There is no male counterpart—no “Snow King,” no gender-neutral “Snow Monarch,” nothing. The event’s own press release casually refers to “the three women on this year’s ballot,” as if it’s self-evident that men need not apply.

Imagine the reverse.

Imagine if Fostoria announced an annual “Snow King” contest open only to men. Three male nominees. 1,358 votes cast. A big ceremony crowning the winner. And when someone asked, “Why can’t women participate?” the organizers shrugged and said, “It’s just always been the Snow King.”

Would that be called charming tradition? Or would every local news outlet, social media feed, and advocacy group instantly brand it sexist, exclusionary, and a relic of outdated gender roles?

Most readers would have no trouble answering that question. A men-only title in 2025 would be met with rightful criticism and demands for either inclusion or a parallel Snow Queen category. Yet when the exclusion runs in the opposite direction—when men are simply shut out year after year—it’s treated as perfectly normal, even celebrated.

That double standard is the problem.

No one is suggesting the Snow Queen title be abolished! Traditions can be wonderful. But fairness isn’t complicated: either open the contest to all genders (call the winner Snow Monarch, Snow Royalty, or keep the Queen title and let anyone compete), or create a balanced Snow King category alongside it. Anything less quietly tells half the population their gender disqualifies them from full participation in a civic celebration paid for and attended by the entire community.

Fostoria’s Snow Queen contest proved this year it can generate real enthusiasm—1,358 votes is remarkable turnout for a small city. Imagine how much more engagement there would be if every resident, regardless of sex, felt welcome to nominate or be nominated.

So here’s the simple question organizers—and the community—should ask themselves:

If Fostoria held an annual “Snow King” contest and explicitly barred women from the ballot, would you consider that sexist?

If the honest answer is yes, then it’s time to fix the imbalance in the opposite direction too.

Congratulations to Biola Villarreal on her well-earned crown! And here’s hoping next year’s ballot finally reflects the whole community it claims to represent.