Miss Destin in the making

Helen Donaldson wasn’t worried that there might not be any contestants to compete for this year’s Miss Destin crown and a chance to be the face of the 60th Destin Fishing Rodeo.


Donaldson, executive director of the Destin Fishing Rodeo, didn’t have any applicants last Thursday with the deadline for applications sitting less than 24 hours away.


“The deadline was Friday afternoon. Do you know anyone who gets anything in early?” Donaldson joked.
At the close of business Friday, the pageant had a field of nine contestants.


Donaldson said the Rodeo’s board of directors pondered the possibility of a Rodeo without Miss Destin but was confident that Ann White, a board member and the Rodeo’s jack of all trades, would be more than happy to wear the crown for the month of October.


It didn’t come to that and Wednesday afternoon, eight of nine contestants gathered at the Destin History and Fishing Museum to celebrate the kickoff of a pageant calendar that will culminate in April 26’s Miss Destin pageant at the Destin Community Center.


The contestants for this year’s Miss Destin pageant are: Taylor Anderson, Lila Dillon, Samantha Esteban, Rachael Hayes, Amelia Markham, Jordyn Murphy, Samantha Speight, Leah Stuart and Brooke Troop.


“I’m really excited about the group of girls we have this year,” Donaldson said.

Stay tuned to Wednesday's Log for an in-depth look at the contestants.

MISS DESTIN CALENDAR OF EVENTS
•April 8: Harbor cruise aboard the Southern Star
•April 12: Judge’s Tea
•April 17: Fashion Show Fitting, Destin Commons
•April 26: 2008 Miss Destin Pageant, Destin Community Center, 7 p.m.


Donaldson said the museum was an appropriate place to kick off an event designed to celebrate’s Destin’s history and heritage.
“The museum is nice enough to have us, and what better place to start this then right here?” Donaldson said. “I’m really excited about the group of girls we have this year.”