11 girls vie for title of Miss Destin 2024
Tina Harbuck
Not just six or seven, but 11 girls have tossed their hats into the ring for a chance to wear the crown and sash as Miss Destin 2024.
The 11 contestants are Evie Barkocy, Ivy Bryant, Caroline Campbell, Gabriella Castaneda, Sophie Corey, Caylen Curle, Reagan Magee, Maylin Nicholson, Caroline Pitchlynn, Isabella Riggs and Kaitlyn Williams.
“This is the largest group we’ve had in a long time,” said Destin Fishing Rodeo Executive Director Helen Donaldson. Ten years ago, the Rodeo had 12 contestants vie for the title.
With the title of Miss Destin comes a $2,000 academic scholarship. The pageant is not a beauty contest. Contestants are judged on personality, communication skills and availability to fulfil the duties of Miss Destin at the 76th annual Destin Fishing Rodeo.
On Tuesday, the girls and their parents got the chance to attend the first of three events planned for the contestants: a Soda Party at the Destin History and Fishing Museum in the Rodeo Gallery.
The pageant is set for 7 p.m. April 27 at Destin High School. It is free and open to the public.
But before that, the girls will be going on a Harbor Cruise on April 16 aboard the Southern Star and then attend a Judges Tea on April 21. At the tea, the girls will have individual interviews with the pageant judges and an opportunity to enjoy an afternoon with other contestants and their parents.
Here’s a little more insight into this year’s contestants and why they want to be Miss Destin.
Evie Barkocy
Evie Barkocy, 18, is a 12th grader at Destin High School and her guardian is Allison Hunnicutt.
“It’s the perfect chance to be a good role model for the young girls in Destin,” Barkocy wrote on her application.
“This would provide me the social platform to influence teens to do the right things and stay off reckless paths. This would influence me to do better and be better as well. I also know it would be super fun and I love to be involved,” she said.
Barkocy believes she would be a good Miss Destin because she is a “very social person and I thrive in social settings. I have a genuine desire to make a difference, especially with the youth in Destin. I’m very passionate about the things I’m involved in,” she wrote.
Ivy Bryant
Ivy Bryant, 15, is a sophomore at Destin High and the daughter of Lucas and Jennifer Bryant.
Bryant says she would like to be Miss Destin because “it would be a fun experience and a great opportunity to meet new people. I also believe it is a great way to serve my community, learn more about my community and become part of Destin’s history.”
She believes she would be a good Miss Destin because of her love for Destin and fishing. “I really love and value our small town. I love and have grown up around the sport of fishing even if it’s on a small scale. I would be honored to represent this very special place,” she wrote.
Caroline Campbell
Caroline Campbell, 16, is a sophomore at Destin High and the daughter of Julie and James Campbell.
Campbell said she would love to be Miss Destin because “the whole pageant will be an invaluable experience to learn social skills like communication and to creat connections with my community. Watching my older sister go through the process, it made me realize what a valuable experience it is.”
“I believe I would be a great Miss Destin because I love the Destin lifestyle and community. With working in retail locally, I love meeting new people and seeing why people love Destin as much as I do. I also believe, I am a good example and leader in my community,” she wrote.
Gabriella Castaneda
Gabriella Castaneda, 18, is a senior at Destin High and the daughter of DeAnn and Thaddaeus Castaneda.
Castaneda would like to be Miss Destin because, “I believe in representing our community with sophistication and kindness,” she wrote. “It’s important to me to make a positive impact and be a role model for others. Being Miss Destin would give me the platform to do just that.”
She believes she would be a good Miss Destin because “of my careful and nice nature, as well as my deep connection to this beautiful city,” Castaneda wrote. “Having lived here for so long, I know my way around and understand the heart of Destin. This familiarity would allow me to represent our community authentically and my desires to make a positive impact.”
Sophie Corey
Sophie Corey, 17, is an 11th grader at Destin High School and the daughter of Jessica Carpenter and Matt Corey.
Corey said she would like to be Miss Destin because, “I love this town and spent a majority of my life here and couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. To be able to give back to my community would be an honor and humbling because I can only think of the amazing people and opportunities this town has given me.”
She believes she would be a good Miss Destin because, “I love this town and being able to give back to my community. Along with spending time with new people that share the same passion for this town, our events, and everything we work so hard for.”
Caylen Curle
Caylen Curle, 16, is a 10th grader at Collegiate High School and the daughter of Alicia and Shane Curle.
“I love the Destin community, specifically the downtown community, (the library, the community center, our local parks, and the harbor). I feel that I am actively engaged in the programs that the community offers and would be proud to represent Destin as Miss Destin 2024,” Curle wrote.
She believes she would be a good Miss Destin because of her involvement in the community and because “I am a welcoming and personable person. I was even nominated Miss Congeniality at the ECTC (Emerald Coast Theater Company). I am very passionate about the enrichment of our Destin community,” she wrote.
Reagan Magee
Reagan Magee, 17, an 11th grader at Fort Walton Beach High, is the daughter of David and Ryan Magee.
“I’ve always enjoyed watching Miss Destin at the Fishing Rodeo and would like to be the role model that I looked up to as a kid,” Magee wrote. “I think it would be fun to represent the community that I grew up in and has helped make me into the person I am today.”
Magee believes she would be a good Miss Destin because, “I’m fun loving and outgoing. I enjoy meeting new people and trying new things.”
Maylin Nicholson
Maylin Nicholson, 16, is a 10th grader at Fort Walton Beach High and the daughter of Lindsay and Travis Carroll.
“I would like to be Miss Destin 2024 because I want to be a good role model for my younger siblings and show them it’s good to be involved in the community. I would also love to meet new people and make new friends through Miss Destin,” Nicholson wrote.
She believes she would be a good Miss Destin because, “I have attended many Miss Destin activities and know what it’s like. I want to make Destin a better place for my siblings and future kids. Most of my family is heavily involved in the community and I would like to experience it firsthand.”
Caroline Pitchlynn
Caroline Pitchlynn, 18, is a senior at Destin High and the daughter of Kathryn Fitzgerald.
Pitchlynn looks up to previous Miss Destins. “To be able to represent my community that way would be an honor. Having that leadership role would give me the opportunity to learn more about fishing and the people in our town. I also think it would be really cool to be Miss Destin as a member of the Calhoun family.”
Pitchlynn believes she would be a good Miss Destin because, “I want to inspire future generations to get more involved in our community. I want to be a leader and show how blessed we are to live in Destin. I have also been fishing my whole life and would love to represent our fishing community.”
Isabella Riggs
Isabella Riggs, 16, is a sophomore at Fort Walton Beach High and the daughter of Stephen and Amy Riggs.
“I would love to represent the city I have lived in my whole life. I have always loved our fishing heritage and have dreamed of becoming Miss Destin since I was a little girl,” Riggs wrote.
“I think I would be a good Miss Destin because I am welcoming, have a good attitude, am responsible, intelligent, and most importantly, I love our city,” Riggs said. “I know as a young girl I always looked up to Miss Destin. I feel I would be a good role model for young girls because of my work ethic for school and dance as well as my leadership.”
Kaitlyn Williams
Kaitlyn Williams, 17, is a junior at Destin High and the daughter of Willy and Jamie Williams.
“I have always wanted to be in a pageant, but it was not an option, as I constantly moved around overseas. I believe connections and relationships will get anyone far in life, and being Miss Destin or just participating in the pageant could open many doors for me and give me many more opportunities to serve my community,” Williams wrote.
Williams believes she would be a good Miss Destin because, “I am extremely talkative and positive. I grew up constantly being reminded I am ambassador of the United States of America living all over the world and I believe if I can be a good ambassador for America, I can be an amazing ambassador for Destin.”