Milo will serve as the 2025 Drake Relays mascot and the Most Beautiful Bulldog
On Monday, Judges proudly announced the winner of the 46th Annual Beautiful Bulldog Contest® at the Knapp Center on Drake University’s campus. They crowned Milo as the winner of the 2025 contest and the official mascot for the prestigious Drake Relays.
Milo—a seven-year-old bulldog from North Liberty, Iowa—delighted the judges and crowd when he graced the stage dressed as a Drake Bulldog soccer player, shin guards and all. Milo’s owners are Kayla Armstrong and Cole Henry. Armstrong, a Drake alumnus, played soccer at Drake from 2013–2017.
Armstrong and Henry said Milo’s favorite things are treats and playing with his brother, Fischer. Henry also said Milo enjoys watching TV, especially Animal Planet and Jimmy Dean breakfast commercials.
The contest—which helps kick off Drake Relays week— drew nearly 30 English bulldog contestants from Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. Milo will now serve a year-long reign as the Drake Relays mascot and the Most Beautiful Bulldog. Griff II remains the full-time, official Drake University live mascot.
In addition to awarding Milo this year’s Most Beautiful Bulldog, the judges and crowd recognized four other standout bulldog competitors with the following awards:
First runner up, winner of the Drake Spirit Award and the Porterhouse People’s Choice Award: Kevin, Des Moines, Iowa
Second Runner Up: Chloe, Waukee, Iowa
Best Dressed Award: Evelyn, Clear Lake, Iowa
Rescue Dog Award: Winston, Pleasant Hill, Iowa
Pumpkin, the 2024 Most Beautiful Bulldog Contest winner, took a final victory lap as the Drake Relays mascot before handing over the crown to Milo.
For more than 40 years, Drake University has hosted the Beautiful Bulldog Contest and makes it a special part of Relays Week. Click here to see a listing of past contest winners. For the latest information about the Beautiful Bulldog Contest, follow the contest Facebook page.
To see a full list of all the events happening during Relays Week 2025, click here.