Four beautiful young women stood on stage awaiting their fate in hopes that they would be crowned the 2011-2012 Queen of the Rainbow.  With hearts racing, co-director Amber Schwier appeared onstage with the judges’ verdict.  In one second, the whole atmosphere changed, the crowd was cheering, girls were crying... and Danielle Prinz was announced as Queen of the Rainbow.  Now let’s rewind a bit…

The pageant began on Sunday April 17, 2011 at 1:30 at the stage in the shady area between Michael Evans, P.A. office and First Realty Centennial Park by City Landing in Dunnellon during Boomtown Days.  The contestants first entertained with a dance set to the tune of Miley Cyrus’s “Girls just wanna have fun,” and then introduced themselves and their sponsors.  The girls then had about ten minutes to speak directly to the crowd about their platform, a promise each contestant pledges to fulfill if she is crowned Queen of the Rainbow.
 

A senior at Dunnellon High School, Caylee Underwood, sponsored by Repeat Boutique, spoke about wanting to help those who are unemployed.  If Underwood were Queen, she would set up job fairs with hiring businesses in hopes of helping those who are currently out of work.  By the end of the event, Underwood walked away with two trophies, for 1^st Runner-up and Crowd Favorite, which was determined by the amount of money each girl was able to raise for their platform in the span of three days.  “Even though I didn’t win, I’m glad everyone heard my cause.” said Underwood.
 

Ashley Nicole “Nicki” Paden, a freshman at DHS, was sponsored by Blue Run Bicycles. If awarded the title Queen, Paden promised to work to bring obesity awareness to Dunnellon.  Paden would set up things like cycling events with her sponsor and said, “We just need to be brought together and start moving.”  Paden won the Miss Congeniality award, which all contestants voted on.  “I love all of the girls.  I think all of us are Miss Congeniality in some way.” 

Rebecca Hetherington, a 2010 DHS alumnus, was sponsored by Halligan Bar & Grill where she is currently employed.  Hetherington’s platform was to prevent drinking and driving.  If Hetherington was crowned Queen, she would “team up with authorities to have more DUI stops” and talk to students of DHS and Dunnellon Middle School about the dangers of drunk driving.  “It was a rollercoaster,” said Hetherington of the pageant, “A fun, exciting, beautiful experience.”

But ultimately Danielle Prinz, a sophomore at DHS, was awarded the top prize of a $500 scholarship, a crown and cape, and the title of Queen of the Rainbow.  Prinz’s speech focused on the students of DHS and Dunnellon Elementary.  Prinz's platform idea was to create a mentoring program that matches elementary students with high school students.  Prinz’s goal is to promote educational involvement in classrooms.