Ocala native is new Miss Florida

Ocala native Casana Fink is the newest Miss Florida winner.

Ocala born and raised Casana Fink is the newest Miss Florida, 2024. She won the title and the crown at the June 29 competition in Lakeland.

A graduate of Forest High School in Ocala, Fink also graduated from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. She is currently working at UF on a master’s degree in business administration, which she plans to complete in the fall season of 2025.

She received a $20,000 scholarship as the winner of the Miss Florida contest.

The state title now places Fink in the running for the Miss America title, which will be in January 2025. An exact date has not been scheduled, but the event will be held in Orlando, she said.

“To become Miss Florida has been a dream of mine for over a decade, and also now to have the honor to represent our state as a Miss America contestant,” Fink said.

Ocala native Casana Fink is the newest Miss Florida winner.

Fink spoke of her hometown of Ocala, saying, “I have such a love for the community. It has been the best possible place to grow up. In the moments following receiving the Miss Florida title, I have been surrounded by so much love and encouragement.”

The daughter of Jim and Selena Fink of Ocala, she said, “Parents watch their child work for such a long time to accomplish a goal, and they are extremely proud to see you not give up on the work.”  She added, “I always say my time growing up set me up as transitional to what I’ve learned and equipped me with the skills to achieve my professional goals.”

Fink competed in her first pageant when she was 13 years old. At 14 years old, she took the title of Miss Lake City, and at 15, competed in the Miss Florida Outstanding Teen competition.

“The teen competition is there to prepare girls for the Miss Florida scholarship competition,” Fink explained.

There are numerous aspects of the Miss Florida competition, she added, including a ten-minute interview, community service initiative, on-stage question and talent portion. One of the main differences between earlier and current pageants is in highlighting one’s talent, Fink said.

Previously, if a contestant’s talent was in an area that was not easily performed on stage, such as soccer or tennis, it seemed to be a disadvantage in that person’s overall score, as opposed to more visual talents such as singing or being an instrumentalist, she said.

The talent showcased by Fink in the state event was lyrical dance.

“I have danced from the time I was 3 until I was 18 years old,” Fink said.

She attended the Mary Ellen School of Dance in Ocala, which has since been sold, and has studied dance at UF in Gainesville. In preparation for the Miss Florida competition, Fink regularly works out at a local gym and has done dance class training at The Dance Company of Ocala.

Fink’s community service, one of the criteria in the competition, includes 10 years of advocating for the organ tissue donation program. Her father is an organ transplant recipient, and is doing well 11 years later, she shared.

Miss Florida is chief operating officer for the “More Transplants More Life” organization in Tampa. She previously worked in the fashion industry in New York before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world.

“There are four points to ‘the crown’ for Miss America…service, scholarship, success and style,” she said. “The base of the crown is sisterhood. I have met some of my best friends through this organization.”

The now-reigning Miss Florida will have a busy schedule from now until the Miss America pageant. She said she “will be traveling throughout the state every week…from the panhandle to the Keys, collaborating with community service organizations, advocating, educating at schools and hospitals and doing media tours. There will be a lot of community service activities.”

“I am strong in my faith and lean on that very heavily. I have peace in the preparation and the outcome. I trust in God’s timing and knowing you are right where you are supposed to be,” she said.

Her family and her boyfriend, Tanner Waite, also of Ocala, agree.

All of Ocala will be rooting for Miss Florida in the January Miss America competition!

Ocala native Casana Fink is the newest Miss Florida winner.