Nine Hope to Be Miss Destin

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Nine Hope to Be Miss Destin

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Rachael Williams isn’t perfect. And she’ll be the first one to tell you that. “I’m always making mistakes and tripping all the time,” the 16-year-old junior at Fort Walton Beach High School says. Yet she knows how to pick up the broken pieces and make the best of any situation.

It’s what makes Rachael different from many girls her age, and it’s what makes her a great candidate for Miss Destin 2007, she believes. That, along with her love of the area, her love of fishing and... “I don’t get grossed out by fish guts,” she said.

Rachael joined eight other high school girls Thursday afternoon at the Destin History and Fishing Museum for the Miss Destin Pepsi Party, the kickoff event for the 2007 Miss Destin Pageant. Each of the girls brought with them their reasons for why they should be the next crown-holder.

“I have an outgoing personality, and I love the community,” said Kristen Blanton, 17. “I really like fishing, and I like having my picture taken,” said Hope Corcoran, 17. Holding the title of Miss Destin is a little local girl’s dream, most of the candidates said. “I’ve attended the Destin Rodeo pretty much all my life, and I’ve always cheered from the sidelines with my dad,” 17-year-old Jami Morgan said. “And I’ve always attended the Miss Destin pageants and dreamed about one day being a part of it.”

Eighteen-year-old Stacey Summers remembers being 5 years old marveling at the Miss Destin portraits and the fishing pictures displayed at the city’s former Hardee’s restaurant. “I told my dad, ‘One day, I’m going to be Miss Destin,” Stacey said.

Throughout the month of April, the nine girls will vie for the crown while participating in a harbor cruise, a judge’s tea, a fashion show fitting and four pageant rehearsals. Each year, the girls also make crafts that reflect their personalities. This year, the girls will design poster boards.

The winner will be named at the Miss Destin 2007 Pageant on April 28 at the Destin Community Center. “It’s so wonderful to have this many girls excited about participating in the pageant this year,” said Marion Palmgren, pageant chairman. “Each year, we get so fond of all of the candidates. The judges always do a fabulous job of picking us a wonderful Miss Destin, and I’m sure they’ll do the same this year.”

Miss Destin must give up 31 days of her life, Palmgren said: She must be at the docks each day in October for the Destin Fishing Rodeo and must have her picture taken with each catch that’s weighed in. “It’s a very demanding job,” Palmgren said.

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