NATCHEZ — Kalin Kirkwood was just a few feet away when it was decided that she would reign as queen for the Pilgrimage Garden Club during the Historic Natchez Pageant.She wasn’t eavesdropping. It just happened to be her day for lifeguarding at the pool at Stanton Hall.

“When I saw everyone coming out of the room, I was excited and nervous at the same time,” she said. “To be queen, it was something I had wanted during all the years of being in Pageant, but I didn’t expect it.

“I was hopeful, but still very surprised when my mom called me.”

So when her mom called and asked, Kirkwood was very clear with her answer, she said.

“It was a very excited ‘yes,’” she said.

As fun as she expects the reign to be, she said the process of preparing for this year’s Pageant has been just as much fun.

“It has been a lot of fun work,” she said. “We did a lot of the preparation during Christmas break but I’ve been coming home just about every weekend to do more things.

“I always get excited driving home when I think about what I get to do.”

Kirkwood’s gown was originally worn by PGC queen Margaret Perkins in 1978.

“The dress is just so different than what you see other people wearing, and I liked that about it,” she said. “I tried on a few dresses about I first put it on, but none of the others felt right.

“I actually started getting a little upset after I took it off. I was thinking, ‘That’s my dress. I have to wear that dress.’”

The gown is of silk-faced satin and jeweled encrusted re-embroidered French Chantilly lace. The jeweled bodice features a portrait neckline, puffed sleeves and a traditional Basque of the 1860s. The elegant beading follows the rose design of the lace throughout.

The skirt of silk-faced satin has a motif of heavy beaded lace in a pyramid effect. The lace design rose to midway of the skirt in the center front and continued around the skirt in varying heights, heavily accented with pearls, crystals and iridescent.

Her train, designed to compliment the gown, is made of silk-faced satin. A wide band of deeply scalloped re-embroidered Chantilly lace forms points all around the train. The same lace motif of the gown was carried out in the train, and, like the gown, is jewel encrusted.

Her crown and scepter were designed especially for Kirkwood by Dynasty of Mobile, Ala.

Kirkwood is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Kirkwood and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Marion of Natchez and the late Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Kirkwood of Madisonville, Ky.

A 2007 graduate of Cathedral High School, Kirkwood was a member of the CHS Hall of Fame, senior homecoming maid and sophomore homecoming maid. She also lettered in cheerleading, softball, soccer and track all four years.

She is currently attending Mississippi State University in Starkville where she is majoring in accounting and marketing. She is a member of Chi Omega sorority and is on the sisterhood event planning committee. She is also a member of the Day One Leadership Community, College Republicans, Wesley Foundation for Methodist students, MSU Speech and Debate team and the American Marketing Association.

She is a member of Jefferson Street United Methodist Church in Natchez.

Growing up in Natchez, Kirkwood was always very involved with Pageant. She said there was never a question from year-to-year whether she wanted to participate.

“I loved Pageant,” she said. “I was excited each year to do it. It was fun to be with all of my friends and do something so unique to Natchez.”

Her past Pageant participation includes Little Maypole, Big Maypole, flower girl in the Wedding, Polka, Bridesmaid in the wedding, Picnic and a substitute on the court.

Kirkwood will reign with Pilgrimage Garden Club King Chase Caldwell from March 20 until April 5.

As excited as she was about being chosen as queen, Kirkwood said she was just as excited that Caldwell was named king. She and Caldwell also served as flower girl and ring bearer together.

“We grew up together from kindergarten through high school,” she said. “He was the guy in our class that was so smart and fun to be around. He can always make you laugh, so I know this is going to be a fun two weeks for me.”

While she will be the one having the fun, Kirkwood knows who to thank for this opportunity.

“The fact that I get to enjoy all of this is because of my mother’s dedication and hard work with the garden club,” she said. “It’s an honor for me to get to represent her and the garden club during this time.”