Hello everyone! I am Ashley Durbin Marrlett. I have been coaching for Donna's Studio for twelve years now and was a student of miss Donna's for twelve years before that! As a veteran student of Miss Donna and now a senior coach for her I have truly learned from the best. Along with being trained as a Donna's Studio coach I have taken in exactly what Donna's Studio is all about, and that is leadership, positivity, hard work and determination. All of these things combined really do make Donna's Studio the place to be!
As I sit here and think back over the years that I have spent in the pageant industry I am reminded of all of the great times that I have had. For me pageantry has been SO much more than winning a crown (don't get me wrong winning is great!) but the memories are what it's all about in the end. Pageants are a place to make friends and spend time with family. I am so close to both of my parents, my aunt and my grandparents and pageants are what helped us to have a great bond. I guess my point is that we as coaches and also from a mother's standpoint need to remember that this is a hobby and a place for these girls and boys to grow and learn and have fun! Winning a crown is just a part of what we are trying to get these kids and young ladies to do.
Crowns tarnish but memories last a lifetime