Amber Dolphin was crowned Miss Austin at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday night.

Monday, February 26, 2001

Amber Dolphin was crowned Miss Austin at Knowlton Auditorium on Saturday night. Her first runner-up is Tina Rosenthal.

Dolphin is the daughter of Larry and Nancy Dolphin and is a freshman at Luther College; Rosenthal is the daughter of Darrel and Lorraine Rosenthal and is a student at St. Thomas University.

The weather outside was frightful, but inside the theme for the Miss Austin Pageant was a tropical paradise. Paul Pruitt returned for his fourth year as masters of ceremonies; he was gracious with his easy-going humor and light banter with the judges and the contestants. He poked fun at himself when he came out on stage dressed as a typical beach bum, complete with sandals and shorts, tropical print shirt and wide straw hat.

The night’s festivities began with Miss Austin 1999 Taylor Carlson, dressed in a Hawaiian printed top with a matching full-length skirt. She was in silhouette, framed around a blazing orange sun. The set design was by Mark Bliese and Benny Mueske. Two beach huts balanced each side of the stage where two Jane Taylor dancers, Megan Nace and Lana Fryer, were posed.

Carlson heated up the room with her singing and the dancers added to the scene with their graceful, athletic movements. The pageant contestants joined the dancers on stage in a number choreographed by Fryer. The contestants were introduced and their sponsors were acknowledged. Following the lively number, the judges were introduced. The judges were James Braaten and Jason Howland from Austin and David Shepardson and Rod Simonson from Minneapolis.

The swimsuit competition was next. The contestants wore one-piece suits and they were judged on their fitness well-being.

Brad Weber, an Austin native and a radiology technologist at Austin Medical Center, played the piano and sang Billy Joel’s "In a New York State of Mind." Brad filled in for Miss Minnesota 2000 Katherine Hill with this selection as she was unable to attend because of the icy road conditions.

Following Weber was the talent competition. The judges were looking for interpretive ability, preparedness and skill. Amber Dolphin played the violin. Her piece was by Mendelsshon from the "Third Movement from Concerto in E Minor." Diana Jones sang "It’s Raining on Prom Night" from the musical "Grease." Jennifer Jones did an interpretive reading by Rebecca Louise Amsterdam. Kristi Jones sang the Christine Aguillera song "I Turn to You." Allison Trom sang these "Boots Are Made For Walking" by Nancy Sinatra. Leslie Ann Morlan danced to music from "Cabaret" in a dance choreographed by Jane Taylor. Carrie Lyn Braaten sang "Orange Colored Sky." Tina Rosenthal played "Liebestraume" by composer Franz Liszt on the piano.

Brad Weber sang and played the piano again. This time he played an Elton John song, "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me."

The eveningwear competition followed and each contestant was asked a question about her platform and how she planned on promoting it. Amber Dolphin wore a full-length purple gown. Diana Jones had on a glittery silver dress. Kristi Jones favored a two-piece black sparkly top with a long black skirt. Allison Trom wore a cobalt blue evening gown. Leslie Morlan had on a fire-engine red chiffon gown with a scarf streaming down her back. Carrie Braaten wore a white gown with sparkly sequins sewn on it. Tina Rosenthal wore a black-and-white gown with white gloves and a black and white throw. Tina Rosenthal’s mother had sewn her dress.

Taylor Carlson sang after the eveningwear competition. Carlson wore a fitted, dark blue sequined dress and sang "This Time Around." Paul Pruitt then sang "This is the Moment" while the auditors tallied up the judges’ scores.

Diana Jones won a $500 scholarship from Riverland Community College and the $100 Congeniality Award. Kristi Jones won the $5,000 Community Service Award. The Academic Achievement Award went to Tina Rosenthal, as well as winning the first runner-up scholarship of $1,600.

Miss Austin Amber Dolphin won a $5,000 scholarship as well as a $500 wardrobe award from Younkers. Her first appearance as Miss Austin will be in March at a Chamber of Commerce event.

The new Miss Austin 2001 had this to say after being crowned: "It was so close. All the girls are so awesome."

Donna Lessard, head of the pageant, had this to say about Amber: "We are so fortunate to have Amber. She is just a lovely girl and she will do great as Miss Austin."