Montana, Meet Your Newest “Cherry Blossom Princess” in DC

Montana has rodeo queens and beauty queens. Did you know that Montana also has a "Cherry Blossom Princess?" It goes back to our strong relationship with Japan.

Madison Atkinson has worked in local television and in local politics here in Montana. She was just crowned as the 2025 Montana Cherry Blossom Princess in Washington, D.C. It's all part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. (For those who don't know, the Cherry Blossoms are those beautiful pink trees that you will see near our national monuments, especially during the springtime in our nation's capital.)

The Montana State Society says it is a tradition remembering the gift of friendship, the 3000 Sakura (Cherry Blossom) Trees from Japan in 1912. Madison Atkinson was honored recently at a reception in the Mansfield Room of the United States Capitol by Montana State Society President Jayne Visser and honorary co-hosts Senator Steve Daines, Senator Tim Sheehy, Congressman Ryan Zinke & Congressman Troy Downing.

The Mansfield Room, as the Montana State Society notes, was "a fitting environment for the occasion." The room is dedicated to Former Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Mike Mansfield, who also served as the longest serving Ambassador to Japan.

Montana State Society: "Madison Atkinson recently moved from Bozeman to Washington, D.C., where she works as Senator Tim Sheehy’s Press Secretary. Prior to her cross country move, Madison spent two years chasing breaking news across the Treasure State as an on-camera reporter for one of Montana’s statewide TV news stations. While reporting in the field, Madison got the chance to conduct exclusive interviews with some of the state’s top officials, including Governor Greg Gianforte and Senator Steve Daines. Those interviews ultimately steered her toward her true passion for politics."

In 2022, Madison decided to leave the TV news industry and pursue a career in Montana politics. After leaving the media, she joined the Montana Republican Party as their Communication Director. During Madison’s time at the MTGOP, she worked closely with Tim Sheehy’s successful U.S. Senate campaign.

Included in the photo above are Mr. Ken Ono, the Minister of Congressional Affairs for the Embassy of Japan, Senator Tim Sheehy, Madison Atkinson, her parents Nelson and Christina Atkinson, President of the Montana State Society Jayne Visser, and Senator Steve Daines.