No Winter Carnival would be complete without Klondike Kate, the festival’s mistress of fun, frivolity and friendship.

This year, the title goes to St. Paul resident Darice Koepke, who’s had her eye on the prize since she was a little girl.

Klondike Kate is modeled after Kathleen Rockwell, who made her way across the mountains to the Yukon and Klondike rivers, as many others did during the Gold Rush of 1898.

Here’s a look at this year’s Kate:

Family: Sorry boys, this Kate’s taken. Koepke is married to husband Mark and has two sons, Logan, 7, and Joey, 4.

Happy Birthday, Kate: The Winter Carnival songster has plenty of reasons to sing this week. In addition to the festival’s opening, Koepke celebrates her 38th birthday today.

Why she wants to be Klondike Kate: “I used to march next to the junior royalty float as part of the color guard group, and I saw Klondike Kate 1977. I told my mom that’s what I wanted to do. She just had this air of confidence, and everybody was all over her.”

Who says three’s a charm? Koepke competed four times before winning the title.

What does it take to be Klondike Kate? “It’s being able to sing spur of the moment, to always have a smile for everyone and to be everything for everybody. The original Klondike Kate we’re modeled after, she was everything to everybody – she was a confidante, she was a friend, a mother when people needed it, just whatever people needed.”

Favorite part of the Winter Carnival: “Probably the Vulcans. I like the royal family, too but there’s something about the chase. It starts with King Boreas, and sneaking right behind is Vulcanus Rex, who says, ‘I’m going to make it warm.’ And then at the end, here he is, and now it’s warm, winter is over and spring is on its way. I like the whole legend behind it. All the traditions are just very fascinating.”

Christina Aguilera helped her win: Really. As one of her three contest songs, Koepke performed Aguilera’s “I Got Trouble” from the “Back to Basics” album.

Beat that: Koepke graduated from Harding High School in 1987. “I get to go to our 20-year reunion as Klondike Kate.”

Any idea how busy you’ll be this year? “I’ll probably sleep in 2008.”

Copyright 2007 Pioneer Press.