Two weeks ago, on Sat., May 17, Blake Finnegan, 9, and Natalie Adkins, 11, were named Little and Young Miss Dorchester. On this coming Sunday, June 1, wearing their new crowns and sashes on display, they will join in the fun of Dorchester Day, riding in the annual parade.
Among 16 contestants, Finnegan and Adkins impressed event coordinator Annissa Essaibi-George and a panel of judges with their strong essays, confident stage presence, and charismatic on-the-spot responses.
Finnegan couldn’t believe she won the competition and described it as “the best day ever.” Though she bears the title “Little Miss,” her pride in the neighborhood is anything but small.
“My mom and Aunties did [the contest] when they were little, and they had so much fun. I wanted to try it because I am proud to be from Dorchester,” said Finnegan, who attends the Richard J. Murphy School. “I want to show everyone how cool Dorchester is, and I encourage more girls to do Little Miss Dorchester!”
“I learned how to speak in front of people and not be scared. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be yourself,” she said, adding that she feels most like herself when she’s with family and friends in the neighborhood.
“Something fun is always happening!” said Finnegan, who particularly enjoys riding her bike in Pope John Paul II Park and bowling at Boston Bowl.
Riding with her will be Young Miss Dorchester, Natalie Adkins.
“I wanted to compete for Young Miss Dorchester because I’m so passionate about this place. It’s not just my home; it’s also a place to learn, grow, and meet new people,” said Adkins, who attends Boston Collegiate Charter School. “We have pride in where we come from, and I want to share that joy with other members of the Dorchester community.”
Like Finnegan, Adkins enjoys bicycling in Pope John Paul II Park, but some of her other favorite spots are the Fields Corner Library and the Franklin Park Zoo. And when she’s not running around the neighborhood, Adkins spends a lot of time at Miss Linda’s School of Dance, where she is a member of the competition team.
While the Little & Young Miss contest wasn’t her first time taking the stage, speaking is a lot different than dancing.
“Public speaking isn’t always easy for me, but knowing I had so many people supporting me and how much I care about Dorchester made me really excited to participate,” said Adkins.
With her new title, she hopes to join in on other community events as well, like the cleaning-up-the streets project in Peabody Square that she joined in last weekend.
“I want to take advantage of my title as Young Miss Dorchester to volunteer in my community,” she said. “I want to do more, like community service, donations, food drives, and anything else that helps my community thrive.”
