JAMIE H. VAUGHT: KMLF Queen Abi Canter Calls Pineville 'Magical'
Abi Canter has lots of exciting things going on.
The personable 2021 queen of the prestigious Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival has just graduated from Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green earlier this month, receiving a bachelor of arts degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication with a minor in Psychological Sciences.
And Canter was a classroom star, earning a grade-point-average of 3.8, while participating in several campus activities. In addition to serving as the chapter president of Alpha Delta Pi, she was one of WKU’s official student ambassadors (Spirit Master) and Senator-at-Large for the student government association, among several things.
She was also chosen as the “Emerging Leader of the Week” by WNKY, a television station in Bowling Green, last November.
A native of Shelbyville, Tenn., where she graduated from Shelby Central High School, Canter is returning to Pineville this weekend’s KMLF as the reigning festival queen and she is very enthusiastic about the upcoming visit.
“I’m over the moon excited for the next festival,” said Canter, who was shocked when she was chosen as the festival queen. “I can’t wait to reunite with all of the people we met (last year), and I can’t wait to experience the festival as the reigning queen. I also can’t wait to meet the candidates this year, and I’m excited to see who the new queen will be. I have no doubt that Pineville will outdo themselves once again, and that countless memories will be made and laughter will be shared.”
Speaking of the 2021 KMLF, Canter said her participation in various events was “sweetest experience of my entire life. I came into the festival not really sure of what to expect, but was immediately greeted by smiling faces and the sweetest hugs. All week long, we were treated like royalty and everyone made us feel so at home. The entire week, the entire town of Pineville truly outdid themselves. Pineville looked and felt like a wonderland. It was absolutely magical. Everyone works so hard to make the festival so special each year, and I do not have the words to express how incredible of a job they all did.”
Canter, who is getting married in August, said she cherished the new friends she made during last year’s festival. She added that was the best part of the entire festival experience.
“We now have lasting friendships and forever memories with each candidate and escort,” she said. “We also feel as if we have a second family in Pineville. When the tornado struck Bowling Green (last December), multiple people reached out to check and make sure I was okay and asked if I needed anything. I know that I will forever have a home in Pineville and people that I can lean on if I ever need anything. I will remember their kindness and generosity for the rest of my life.”
Canter plans to live in the Nashville area where she is a buyer’s agent in real estate.
Jamie H. Vaught, a longtime sports columnist in Kentucky, is the author of five books about UK basketball, including recently-published “Chasing the Cats: A Kentucky Basketball Journey.” He is the editor and founder of KySportsStyle.com Magazine, and a professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College in Middlesboro. You can follow him on Twitter @KySportsStyle or reach him via email at KySportsStyle@gmail.com.
