Fab five

The five girls who will compete in the Miss Destin Pageant got a chance to meet and mingle for the first time on Tuesday for the Miss Destin Soda Party at the Destin History and Fishing Museum.

“The girls will now feel comfortable with all of us (The Destin Fishing Rodeo organizers),” said Ann White, the pageant’s organizer. “A bonus was that they also got a tour of the museum and learned the history of Destin and the rodeo.”

The contestants chatted, laughed and talked about what they hope to get out of the pageant.

“My sister also participated before and it made me want to do more and get involved in the community,” said Kyla McInnes, a sophomore at Choctawhatchee High School.

Organizers introduced each other and welcomed the contestants. Light snacks, desserts — and of course soda — were served.

“I lived in Destin my whole life,” Fort Walton Beach High School junior Paige Dougherty said. “I’m really looking forward on all of the experiences leading up to the night of the pageant.”

Fellow contestant Rachel McMullen, a junior at Fort Walton Beach High School, couldn’t agree more.

“I know friends who have done it before and swear it was a blast.” she said. “I have never done a pageant before … I’m doing something out of my comfort zone.”

The pageant contestants will attend a couple more social events where they will get to meet the four judges. Other upcoming events include a harbor boat cruise on March 27 and the annual Judges' tea party on April 2.

“I want to get closer with the girls and meet more people within the community," said Fort Walton Beach High School junior Caroline Porter. “I want to be a role model for younger girls”

On April 8, a new Miss Destin will be crowned and the winner will receive at least $2,000 in scholarship money. She will represent Destin at many functions, including the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo in October.

“I grew up attending the fishing rodeo,” said Alexis Sparks, a junior at Fort Walton Beach High School, on Tuesday while touring the museum. “I want to set an example for other ladies and be a representative for the town.”