Mainstreet Daily News
Casana Fink, a 23-year-old from Ocala, was chosen as the new Miss Gainesville 2021 on Saturday.
The Miss Gainesville Scholarship Competition, held at Howard Bishop Middle School, featured seven contestants from around Florida, according to the Miss Gainesville Scholarship Program press release.
“I am already looking forward to my duties this year—traveling, meeting new people and getting the word out about my social impact initiative, which promotes the importance of liver transplants: Give to Life—Donate Life,” said Fink in the press release.
As Miss Gainesville, Fink received a $1,000 scholarship and will have the opportunity to compete for the Miss Florida title in Lakeland in June 2022. A graduate of the University of Florida, Fink majored in Communications and now is a small business owner.
“Casana embodies the qualities a role model for young women and girls should have,” said Rachel Dickhaus, the local executive director of the Miss Gainesville Scholarship Competition, in the press release.
During her year as Miss Gainesville, Fink will travel throughout the Gainesville metropolitan area advocating her social impact initiative. Fink’s social impact initiative of promoting liver transplants is personal to her and arises out of the story of her father who needed a transplant when Fink was 14 years old.
She will continue to talk to various government representatives, business leaders, community groups and citizens-at-large, urging them to get involved in the fight for incentivizing liver transplants. Her organization also promotes organ and tissue donation.
Other candidates who received awards during the final and preliminary competitions, included Miss Gainesville’s Outstanding Teen, Ashlee Combee, 13, of Branford High School, and First Runner Up to Miss Gainesville, Allison Reade, 24.