Dalton, Ga. is a long way from any seashore, but the self-described “misfits” behind the Resaca Beach Calendar Girl contest have never let a lack of salty water get in the way of admiring gorgeous women in bikinis.

It all started in 1983 as a joke about a tiny community best known for its annual re-enactment of a Civil War battle, but Resaca Beach has grown into a pretty big deal for connoisseurs of pretty ladies since Marla Maples (later Trump) won the first event.

Another famous contestant was 1988 winner Lisa Robertson, who now charms millions of viewers on the QVC Shopping Network. Several contestants have also gone on to become Playboy Playmates or become winners/finalists in other high-profile pageants.

Contest prize money awarded has exceeded $140,000, plus thousands of dollars in other prizes and personal appearance money for the winners.

With that type of incentive, founder-slash-emcee Dan Bowen always manages to find some of the Southland’s most stunning beauties, including the 30 women who competed June 14th at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center in Dalton. Jeannette Bourke, 23, of Sharpsburg, Ga. went home with the top prize while the first runner-up was Sunshine Rodriguez, 22, of Morrow, Ga. Rounding out the top three was blonde stunner Loren Carpenter, 19, of Douglasville, Ga.

This year’s contest included a Savvy reader favourite, Jessica Lauren of Madisonville, Tenn., who showed off her amazing figure just months after giving birth. Past Savvy Girls who competed at Resaca Beach include Amberley French, Rabecca Lee, Breanne Ashley, Camille Holbrook, Melissa Collins, and J. Dawn Smith.

This year’s contest included Bourke, Lauren, Rodriguez, and Carpenter, as well as Brooke Waters, Allie Pierce, Sarah Oliver, Erica Soeder, Suzanne Smith Grenon, Chanel Hines, Whitney Jones, Teal Ann Lingenfelser, Christianna Aronstam, Shona Hood, Kristen Tripp, Kellie Smith, Amanda Rutherford, Megan Bales, Rachel Hayes, Amanda Meredith, Michelle Sacco, Tracy Poor, Chelsea Tiller, Ashley Faulkner, Stephanie Hovers, Kelsey Foster, Candace Green, Shanai Bennett, Annette Holliman, and Cattie Thompson.

If you missed Resaca Beach, just check out the Hooter’s in Chattanooga, Tenn., because half of the contestants probably work there.

You may not find a lot of modelling agencies in Dalton’s neck of the woods, but photographers, publishers and calendar girl scouts always swarm to Resaca Beach to see the cream of the crop. When you add in some beer suds and great music, it makes for one hell of a fun time.

Who needs an ocean when there’s plenty of nice scenery in Northwest Georgia?

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On the Web:

http://www.resacabeach.com/