Community Corner

IB Woman Wins Del Mar Race Hat Contest

Daniella Lopez is the second local resident to take home top honors in the contest that has become a staple of the Del Mar Racetracks.

While horses burst out of their gates for first time this season at the Del Mar Racetracks, Daniella Lopez of Imperial Beach took home first place honors in the Most Glamorous category in the One and Only Truly Fabulous Hats Contest.

Lopez also won the Opening Day contest's grand prize for a hat that took her two and a half months to create to go along with her dress.

"It's nicknamed Prehistoric Orchids and Tear Drops," the 22-year-old nursing assistant said.

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Wednesday was Lopez' fourth year competing in the contest. In 2010 she won third place in a category for a hat made of playing cards.

For making such a fabulous and glamorous hat, she received $300, two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the United States and a dual chain 24-karat gold-plated necklace from The Diamond Boutique's Jacqueline Kennedy collection valued at $650.

Find out what's happening in Imperial Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lopez said she may take a trip to Niagra Falls with her free plane tickets.

Her father Daniel Lopez is a worship leader at held in Pier Plaza every Sunday.

Last year Mike Guthrey, who cuts Dan's hair as a barber at on Imperial Beach Boulevard, won first place in the Funniest/Most Outrageous contest for his .


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