Indiana Derby Queen Contestants need YOUR vote!
It’s the first of its kind in Indiana, and 5 contestants need YOUR vote to help them take home the “People’s Choice Vote” for this year’s 1st Annual Indiana Derby Pageant on Saturday, July 16! The contestants visited Indy Style to give us a glimpse of their background, their personalities and to explain why they decided to compete. The crowning will take place during the 22nd Running of the Grade II $500,000-added Indiana Derby.Get to know the contestants:
Kailyn Jonas is from Shelbyville and recently graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Nursing. Kailyn is so excited she gets to pursue her passion as a nurse at Major Hospital in the Adult Medical Unit caring for others. In 2009, Kailyn had the honor of being Miss Shelby County Fair Queen and Miss Congeniality where she went on to represent her county in the Miss Indiana State Fair Queen Pageant. In her free time, Kailyn enjoys spending time with her family, making others laugh at her jokes, and she is also very excited to marry her best friend next June.
Mallory Tolin is an enthusiastic graduate student in her second year of Physician Assistant school at Butler where she was recently named one of the university’s Top 100 Outstanding Students. While she’s not studying, Mallory loves to serve the Lord and do anything that has to do with horses-especially barrel racing. Mallory hopes to one day combine her three passions of serving the Lord, medicine, and horses by opening a Christ-centered therapeutic riding center using retired barrel and race horses.
Ashley Milburn is a 23 year old working actress, model and student at Indy Actors Academy. She volunteers with Central Kentucky Riding For Hope as well as The Cabbage Patch Settlement Home. Ashley is also a motivational speaker and a makeup artist. In her free time she loves being with her family and her animals.
Elizabeth Lecher is a 2014 graduate of Purdue University and earned her degree in Agriculture Economics and a Leadership Development Certificate. Elizabeth was a 500 Festival Princess in 2014 and recently has been chosen as a Torch Bearer in the Bicentennial Torch Relay celebrating Indiana’s 200th year; being selected for community involvement and volunteerism in Decatur County. She is a Commodity Merchandiser for ADM Grain and has plans to pursue law school in the future. She works with her two yearling Quarter Horses in her free time and values time spent with her twin brother, family and friends.
Gracie Lyons was born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana. Gracie is not only a true Hoosier, but a proud graduate of the University of Indianapolis and graduated on the honor roll with a bachelor’s degree in communications. Throughout her college career, Gracie excelled with the Miss America Organization competing for the title of Miss Indiana. Pageantry, along with hard work, has allowed Gracie to graduate college debt free. Gracie founded the non-profit, Mentoring Matters Organization and helps others by sharing her empowering story of resilience. Outside of her work in pageantry and local television, Gracie continues to model and is currently a marketing and public relations consultant. (Gracie was not available to appear on Indy Style)
• Go to www.wishtv.com/contests to vote on the Indiana Derby Queen People’s Choice Winner!
• Voting starts July 11th at 7am and ends July 15th at 12pm (noon).
• All voters must be 21 and over.
• All voters are automatically entered for a chance to win $250 in Casino Cash from Indiana Grand.