POULSBO — When Miss Poulsbo 2006 Brenna Gardner-Brown passed the crown to her successor, Alex Duchimen, on March 24 in Bremerton, it marked the official end to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Even though Gardner-Brown didn’t gain the notoriety of her fellow county royalty, Miss Washington 2006 Kristen Eddings, she has left an indelible mark on Little Norway.
“My favorite event was definitely Viking Fest,” Gardner-Brown said. “I had been dreaming of the day I would get to drive around on the back of a convertible and wave to all the people in Poulsbo, all of whom, I was very excited to represent for the entire year.”
Throughout the duration of her reign, Gardner-Brown said she found inspiration and strength from those she was chosen to represent.
“Poulsbo is home to some of the most extraordinary people I have ever met in my entire life,” she said. “Having the opportunity for an entire year to be an ambassador to a town that celebrates service towards others has been the best blessing of my life.”
While other pageant contestants have chosen regional platforms, Gardner-Brown chose “Women in Leadership” and teamed with Mayor Kathryn Quade and 23rd District State Rep. Sherry Appleton (D-Poulsbo) to stay involved locally.
“The reason I chose to keep things at such a local level, is because I believe the reason I have excelled so much these past few years is due to the town I come from and the people who have been supporting me every step of the way,” she said.
Gardner-Brown took her local involvement to the state level at the Miss Washington Pageant in July 2006, where she was mentored by Eddings, who was Miss Poulsbo 2002.
“Kristen has taught me many invaluable life lessons through her title of Miss Washington and Top 10 at Miss America,” Gardner-Brown said. “Those are: to strive for excellence, to live with a purpose and to have hope.”
Change also makes or breaks a person, and Gardner-Brown said that made her a stronger Miss Poulsbo.
“I learned how to become an independent thinker who could still manage to serve her community,” she said.
Even though her reign as Miss Poulsbo has ended, Gardner-Brown said a run at the Miss Whatcom County title in Bellingham, where she attends Western Washington University, or a run at Miss Kitsap isn’t out of the picture.
But as Miss Poulsbo, Gardner-Brown said she knows how she wants to be remembered.
“I would love to be remembered as a young lady who was dedicated to serving her community and trying to make it a better place,” she said. “I hope that I have inspired the young women of North Kitsap to want to get involved to serve their incredible town.”
