Interview With The Crown: Miss Exotic Oregon 2026 - Daphne
Congratulations, Daphne! You absolutely slayed The Finals! Your theme was one of the most unique we’ve seen to date! Tell us why you chose the theme you did, and why it won out over the other themes you contemplated.
I knew I wanted my theme to be sci-fi, and at first, I considered doing a take on Frankenstein or the movie Species. However, those fell short of the originality I was looking for. Themes of sentient, disobedient machines and artificial intelligence have interested me for quite some time, and to me, they feel especially (and terrifyingly) relevant to our current day. I also wanted an opportunity for transformation! This theme felt very personal to me.
Focusing on the time during your actual performance, what do you remember thinking about or feeling while on stage?
Toward the beginning of my performance, I remember feeling the audience’s eyes on me and realizing that I had their full attention. You could’ve heard a pin drop. I was just thinking: Do what you rehearsed, don’t get in your head, you’ve got their attention now—don’t lose it!
This is your first Exotic cover! We're excited to feature you! Was being featured on our cover something you thought about in the past? Did the cover photo shoot feel different from the Exotic ad photo shoots you’ve been to in the past?
Being on the cover is an honor! Being on it isn’t something I ever counted on, but sure, I thought about it! These things come with time and timing, and I haven’t been dancing too long. The cover shoot with HYPNOX felt more personal and relaxed than other shoots, and it was cool to have a good chunk of time set aside to really settle in. We’d worked together before, so it was very comfortable and fun!
Describe your other experiences competing in events—including Miss Exotic Oregon 2025, where you placed fourth—and how they shaped your preparations for Miss Exotic Oregon 2026.
The experiences of competing in other events eased my nerves quite a bit. I think there’s a huge benefit to having an idea of what to expect—what the judges look for, what the competitions feel like, the level of artistry and creativity that is possible... When I got second place in my first-ever competition last year, Best Breasts of the West, I realized I might just have what it takes to go for gold. Competing in Miss Exotic Oregon 2025 helped me game-plan something really special this time around.
Despite being redundant, we never miss the chance to ask these next two questions! What advice would you offer to other performers who are looking to win it all at an Exotic event?
Miss Exotic Oregon is an incredible opportunity to showcase your creativity. Put your attention into the details. Be original and refined. Tell a story! And make sure you command the hell out of that stage. If there’s ever an opportunity to go all out, it’s at an Exotic event.
If you could travel back in time and talk to baby stripper Daphne, what advice would you offer?
To be honest, I’m still kind of a baby stripper! But when I was just starting out, I’d remind myself to stay true, be humble, not become a workaholic, and take advantage of every opportunity.
What if our readers are interested in seeing you perform? Where can they catch you on shift? Drop your socials, too!
You can catch me at Hawthorne Strip during the second half of the week. I’m not currently on Instagram, so you can find my schedule on Hawthorne Strip’s website (hawthornestrip.com), as well as on my personal website (daphneduvall.com), where you can also find my contact info, other appearances and events I’m involved in, and all kinds of other goodies and updates.
Tell us all about some of your future aspirations, industry-related or otherwise...
I am always looking for creative performance and leveling-up opportunities—burlesque, featured performances, showcases, music videos, etc. I also have some workshop ideas that I'm absolutely dying to bring to life.
Lastly, what consumes your time when you’re not killing it on the pole or otherwise kicking ass on stage?
Off the stage, I’m often cooking something, making music, or off on some adventure. In the winter, you can find me wandering through antique stores or cozying up in my home. In the summer, I’m sweating in the garden, driving to estate sales, and otherwise tinkering. And I’m always surrounding myself with the best, sweetest, most supportive people—my girls!!
