Meet the Winner of Drake’s 2021 Beautiful Bulldog Contest

Now THIS is a competition I would've loved to be at!

To kick off the Drake Relays in Des Moines each year, Drake University holds a 'Beautiful Bulldog Contest.' Bulldogs are voted on by students, and then the finalists compete in Des Moines for the title. According to the Des Moines Register, the 42nd annual event featured 21 finalists from Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri, and Tennessee, and half of them were rescues!

In my opinion, all of the pups this year were deserving of first place, but only one could be chosen as Drake's mascot for the week. The winner was 5-year-old Myrtle Mae, owned by Des Moines resident Whitney Bogdanski. The article reads:

"As most bulldogs lounged before the competition, Myrtle Mae worked out hard, kicking a soccer ball. Peanut butter on one side of the ball preoccupied her. But with enough persistence, she eventually kicked the ball into a soccer net — and got the peanut butter."

Myrtle Mae wasn't the only winner last weekend! 6-year-old Betsie of Des Moines came in second place, and Dottie of Des Moines came in third. Plus, there were also awards given out for Best Dressed, Drake Spirit, Rescue Dog, and the People's Choice Award. Here are some photos of the event from Drake University's Facebook page:

Drake University's website says that there are typically 40 dogs that compete in the annual competition, and that last year's event was held virtually because of the pandemic. The 2020 champion was Hulk, a 3-year-old bulldog from Jewell, Iowa. You can read more on the Drake University Beautiful Bulldog Contest HERE.