Gainesville represented again at Miss Georgia Pageant

GAINESVILLE - This year's Miss Georgia Pageant begins Monday in Columbus, and a 21-year-old Gainesville woman will be competing.

Tiffany Dupont, the reigning Miss University of Georgia, who plays the violin as her talent, says she gets "butterflies" just before a performance.

"I'm fine until then, and then I'll stand back stage, and it's literally a few moments before it's my turn to walk out there, and I'll stand there and ask myself what I am doing...why am I putting myself through this, and then I'll walk out onto the stage, and I'll remember what it's all for, and it'll be great."

Dupont, the daughter of John and Milly Dupont, is the second straight Miss UGA from Gainesville.

Amy Mulkey held the title last year and competed for Miss Georgia.

Dupont says she's been preparing the past two months.

"Getting all the materials that we need, all the gowns. Practicing the violin like crazy, hours and hours a day, and just getting prepared for the coaching, for interview, and just all kinds of things. There is so much that goes into it."

Preliminaries for the Miss Georgia Pageant start Monday. The final is Saturday night.