Miss North Carolina

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For the state pageant affiliated with Miss USA, see Miss North Carolina USA.
Miss North Carolina
Formation1937
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersRaleigh
Location
Membership
Miss America
Official language
English
LeaderSusan Williams (Executive Director)
Websitewww.missnc.org

The Miss North Carolina competition selects the representative for the state of North Carolina to compete in the annual Miss America competition. The competition has been held in High Point, North Carolina since 2021 and was previously held in Raleigh every year since 1978. Prior to that, it was held in various locales including Charlotte, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Durham, Burlington, Wilmington, and Morehead City. Taylor Loyd of Mooresville, North Carolina was crowned Miss North Carolina 2023 on June 24, 2023, at High Point Theatre in High Point, North Carolina. On January 14, 2024, she competed for the title of Miss America 2024 and placed in the Top 11 semi-finalists.

75th anniversary[edit]

The Miss North Carolina pageant celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2012. For pageant week, all living former Miss North Carolina titleholders were invited back for a reunion. The "Miss North Carolina Sisterhood" sponsored a special gala the night before the pageant on June 22, 2012.[1] This was highlighted with a special exhibit at the North Carolina Museum of History and 43 former Miss North Carolinas (the oldest being Miss North Carolina 1946, Trudy Riley Kearny) coming to the week's events, including Miss America 1962, Maria Fletcher. In addition, all of the former titleholders were invited for a special honorary luncheon at the North Carolina Executive Mansion, the first luncheon held there since the 1960s. This also marked the first time in 17 years that the pageant has been televised throughout the state.[2] It was televised on the special events channel of Time Warner Cable.

Gallery of past titleholders[edit]

  • Jessica Jacobs, Miss North Carolina 2007
    Jessica Jacobs,
    Miss North Carolina 2007
  • Katherine Southard, Miss North Carolina 2009
    Katherine Southard,
    Miss North Carolina 2009

Results summary[edit]

The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss North Carolina titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.

Placements[edit]

  • Miss Americas: Maria Fletcher (1962)
  • 1st runners-up: Constance Dorn (1973), Susan Lawrence (1976), Michelle Warren (1998), Kelli Bradshaw (1999)
  • 2nd runners-up: Ruth Covington (1937), Lu Ogburn (1952), Ann Herring (1961), Kirstin Elrod (2005)
  • 3rd runners-up: Clara Faye Arnold (1956)
  • 4th runners-up: Joey Augusta Paxton (1941), Betty Evans (1959), Jessica Jacobs (2008)
  • Top 10: Elaine Herndon (1958), Jennifer Smith (1992)
  • Top 11: Taylor Loyd (2024)
  • Top 13: Dorothy Johnson (1945)
  • Top 15: Margaret Wood (1939), Misty Clymer (2003), Hailey Best (2012), Alexandra Badgett (2020)
  • Top 16: Betty Hunneycutt (1937), Carolyn Edwards (1951)

Awards[edit]

Preliminary awards[edit]

  • Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Joey Augusta Paxton (1941), Lu Ogburn (1952), Clara Faye Arnold (1956), Elaine Herndon (1958), Betty Evans (1959), Maria Fletcher (1962), Monta Maki (1980), Elizabeth Williams (1983), Kelli Bradshaw (1999)
  • Preliminary Talent: Margaret Wood (1939), Joey Augusta Paxton (1941), Lu Ogburn (1952), Scarlet Morgan (1991), Lisa Bamford (1996), Michelle Warren (1998), Adrienne Core (2011), Taylor Loyd (2024)

Non-finalist awards[edit]

  • Non-finalist Talent: Sarah Stedman (1968), Elise Annette Johnson (1969), Patricia Johnson (1970), Cornelia Lerner (1971), Susan Griffin (1975), Deborah Shook (1979), Janet Ward Black (1981), Lynn Williford (1982), Elizabeth Williams (1983), Scarlet Morgan (1991), Dana Stephenson (1995), Lisa Bamford (1996), Jennifer Roberts (1997), Lorna McNeil (2001), Adrienne Core (2011), Arlie Honeycutt (2013), Beth Stovall (2015), McKenzie Faggart (2017)

Other awards[edit]

  • Miss Congeniality: Jeanne Swanner (1964)
  • Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker Award: Hailey Best (2012)
  • Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Miracle Maker Award 1st runners-up: Victoria Huggins (2018), Alexandra Badgett (2020)
  • Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medalists: Hailey Best (2012), Arlie Honeycutt (2013)
  • Equity & Justice Scholarship Award Winners: Alexandra Badgett (2020)
  • Quality of Life Award 1st runners-up: Heidi Sue Williams (1993)
  • Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Dana Reason (2004)
  • Quality of Life Award Finalists: Amanda Watson (2009)
  • Top Fundraiser 2nd runner-up: Carli Batson (2022)

Winners[edit]

  •   Declared as winner
  •   Ended as a runner-up
  •   Ended as a finalist or semi-finalist
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes
2023 Taylor Loyd Mooresville, North Carolina 22 Miss Statesville Opera performance, “Amour, ranime mon courage” (The Poison Aria) from C. Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette Top 11 Preliminary Talent Award At Miss NC, won talent preliminary, evening gown preliminary, overall rookie award
2022 Karolyn Martin Charlotte 22 Miss Metrolina Vocal At Miss NC, won evening gown preliminary
2021 Carli Batson[3] Wilmington 21 Miss Cleveland Dance, Lyrical en pointe to “The Impossible Dream.” Top Fundraiser 3rd Place At Miss NC, won talent preliminary, won evening gown preliminary
2019–20 Alexandra Badgett[4] Charlotte 22 Miss Jacksonville Tap Dance, "This Is Me" by Keala Settle Top 15[5] CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up[6]

Equity & Justice Scholarship Award[6] 		Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2012[7]
2018 Laura Matrazzo[8] Chapel Hill[8] 23 Miss Metrolina Rhythm Tap Dance, "Are You Ready for a Miracle?"
2017 Victoria Huggins[9] St. Pauls 23 Miss Greater Sampson County Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up[10] Former contestant on Star Search[9] and American Idol Season 10[11]
2016 McKenzie Faggart[12] Concord 21 Miss Mecklenburg County Lyrical Dance, "Rise Up" Non-finalist Talent Award Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2011[13]
Top 15 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 pageant
2015 Kate Peacock[14] Dunn 19 Miss Dunn Tap Dance, "Proud Mary"
2014 Beth Stovall[15] Goldsboro 20 Miss Greater Sampson County Classical Vocal, "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta" from La rondine Non-finalist Talent Award
2013 Johna Edmonds[16] Lumberton 24 Miss Johnston County Vocal, "Somewhere"
2012 Arlie Honeycutt[17] Garner 19 Miss Kinston-Lenoir Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal

Non-finalist Talent Award
2011 Hailey Best[18] Goldsboro 21 Miss Durham Operatic Vocal, "Art is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress by Victor Herbert Top 15 CMN Miracle Maker Award

Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal[19]
2010 Adrienne Core Erwin 22 Miss Raleigh Contemporary Clogging, "Soul Man" Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Talent Award
2009 Katherine Southard Raleigh 23 Ballet en pointe, "Fascinating Rhythm"
2008 Amanda Watson 21 Miss Garner Vocal Quality of Life Award Finalist First Miss America contestant to choose ALS awareness as her platform[citation needed]
2007 Jessica Jacobs High Point 23 Miss Central Carolina Ballet en pointe, "Spring" from The Four Seasons 4th runner-up
2006 Elizabeth Horton High Point 22 Miss Carolina Coast Operatic Vocal, "Je veux vivre" from Romeo and Juliet
2005 Brooke Elizabeth McLaurin Fayetteville 24 Miss Fayetteville Vocal, "I'll Never Love This Way Again"
2004 Kirstin Elrod Cary 23 Miss Carolina Foothills Semi-classical Vocal, "Love Is Where You Find It" 2nd runner-up
2003 Dana Reason Raleigh 24 Miss Greenville Tap Dance, "Rock This Town" Quality of Life Award 2nd runner up
2002 Misty Clymer Raleigh 24 Miss Western Piedmont Vocal, "Hold On" from The Secret Garden Top 15
Rebekah Revels St. Pauls Miss Fayetteville Vocal Unable to compete; resigned following threat of release of intimate photographs; later attempted, through court action, to regain her right to compete in the Miss America pageant[20]
2001 Ashley House Dallas 20 Miss Lincoln County Celtic Irish Dance, "Flames of Fire" Died on December 24, 2017, at the age of 37[citation needed]
2000 Lorna McNeill Lumberton 24 Miss Topsail Island Vocal, "Natural Woman" Non-finalist Talent Award
1999 Kelly Trogdon Asheboro 23 Miss Western Piedmont Vocal, "It's Time"
1998 Kelli Bradshaw Spivey's Corner 22 Miss Western Piedmont Ballet en Pointe, "PS 491" by John Tesh 1st runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1997 Michelle Warren Gastonia 22 Miss Appalachian Valley Vocal, "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" 1st runner-up Preliminary Talent Award
1996 Jennifer Roberts Greensboro 21 Miss Thomasville Tap Dance, "Devil With a Blue Dress On" Non-finalist Talent Award
1995 Lisa Bamford Raleigh 21 Miss Garner Classical Piano, Totentantz by Liszt Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Talent Award
1994 Dana Stephenson Garner 20 Classical Vocal, "Art is Calling for Me" from The Enchantress by Victor Herbert Non-finalist Talent Award
1993 Mary Susan Runion Wilmington 24 Miss Spivey's Corner Tap Dance, "Luck Be a Lady"
1992 Heidi Sue Williams Wade 23 Miss Fayetteville Vocal, "Danny Boy" Quality of Life Award 1st runner-up Sister of Miss North Carolina Teen USA 1993, Wendy Williams[21]
1991 Jennifer Smith Mt. Airy 22 Miss Greater Raleigh Semi-classical Vocal, "Half a Moment" from By Jeeves Top 10
1990 Scarlet Morgan Pfafftown 22 Miss Forsyth County Classical Vocal, "Vissi d'arte" from Tosca Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Talent Award
1989 Kelly Fletcher Morganton 21 Miss High Country Semi-classical Vocal, "Half a Moment"
1988 Lee Beaman Rocky Mount 20 Miss Henderson Jazz en Pointe
1987 Lori Boggs Kannapolis 26 Miss Cabarrus County Popular Vocal, "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" Previously Miss North Carolina USA 1980[22]
1986 Karen Bloomquist Durham 22 Miss Durham Piano
1985 Joni Parker Fayetteville 24 Miss Fayetteville Vocal, "The Shadow of Your Smile"
1984 Francesca Adler 23 Vocal, "Home" Mother of Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018, Jessica Baeder[23]
1983 Deneen Graham North Wilkesboro 19 Miss Elkin Valley Jazz Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" First African American Miss North Carolina[24]
1982 Elizabeth Williams Shelby 22 Miss Greater Greensboro Semi-classical Vocal, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from The Sound of Music Non-finalist Talent Award

Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1981 Lynn Williford Wilmington 24 Miss Wilmington Russian Character Dance, "Czardas" Non-finalist Talent Award
1980 Janet Ward Black Kannapolis 21 Miss Charlotte-Mecklenburg Classical Piano, "Revolutionary Étude" by Frédéric Chopin Non-finalist Talent Award
1979 Monta Maki Hickory 23 Miss Hickory Vocal, "You Light Up My Life" Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1978 Deborah Shook Spruce Pine 21 Miss Spivey's Corner Tap Dance, "Lover" Non-finalist Talent Award Gained national attention by kicking her crown across the stage the next to last night of her reign in a disagreement with pageant sponsors, Raleigh Jaycees[25]
1977 Kathy Fleming Hamptonville 22 Miss Appalachian State University Popular Vocal, "Everything"
1976 Susie Proffitt Black Mountain 22 Miss Rutherford County Tap Dance from Baby Face
1975 Susan Lawrence Thomasville 21 Miss Thomasville Vocal, "You And I" from Goodbye, Mr. Chips 1st runner-up
1974 Susan Griffin High Point 22 Miss High Point Semi-classical Vocal, "With a Song in My Heart" Non-finalist Talent Award
1973 Heather Walker Hendersonville 19 Miss Hendersonville Popular Vocal, "The Other Man's Grass Is Always Greener"
1972 Constance Dorn Kinston 19 Miss Kinston Ballet, "The Grand Holiday" 1st runner-up Later Miss North Carolina USA 1975
2nd runner-up at Miss USA 1975 pageant
1971 Patsy Wood Benson 24 Miss Garner Vocal, "I Believe it All"
1970 Cornelia Lerner Asheville 18 Miss Asheville Piano, "Revolutionary Étude" by Chopin Non-finalist Talent Award
1969 Patricia Johnson Winston-Salem 20 Miss Raleigh Semi-classical vocal from Porgy and Bess Non-finalist Talent Award
1968 Elisa Annette Johnson New Bern 19 Miss New Bern Vocal, "As Long as He Needs Me" from Oliver! Non-finalist Talent Award
1967 Sarah Stedman Asheboro 22 Miss Randolph County Piano, Fantaisie-Impromptu Non-finalist Talent Award
1966 Nannette Minor Charlotte 23 Miss Charlotte Piano & Vocal
1965 Penelope Clark Sanford 19 Miss Sanford Classical Ballet, "Robina"
1964 Sharon Finch Thomasville 20 Miss Thomasville Vocal & Dance with Castanets
1963 Jeanne Swanner Graham 18 Miss Graham Comedy Sketch & Ukulele Miss Congeniality Judge at Miss America pageants in 1990, 1994, and 2000[citation needed] Jeanne Flinn Swanner Robertson died unexpectedly on August 21, 2021, at age 77.
1962 Janice Barron Morganton 18 Miss Morganton Piano, "Revolutionary Étude" by Chopin
1961 Susan Woodall Miss Roanoke Rapids Did not compete; later assumed the title after Fletcher won Miss America 1962
Maria Fletcher Asheville 19 Miss Asheville Tap dance to recorded version of herself singing "Somebody Loves Me" Winner Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1960 Ann Herring Winston-Salem 19 Miss Winston-Salem Vocal, "The Lonely Goatherd" from The Sound of Music 2nd runner-up
1959 Judith Klipfel Asheboro 18 Miss Randolph County Vocal
1958 Betty Evans Greenville Miss Greenville Vocal, Piano, Skit, & Dance, "Wait till You See Her" 4th runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1957 Elaine Herndon Durham Miss Durham Vocal & Dance Top 10 Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1956 Joan Melton Albemarle Miss Albemarle Piano
1955 Clara Faye Arnold Raleigh Miss Wake County Monologue, "Sabrina Fair" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award
1954 Betty Ring Lexington Miss Lexington Dramatic Monologue, "The Sleepwalking Scene" from Macbeth
1953 Barbara Crockett Winston-Salem Miss Winston-Salem Vocal, "Shine"
1952 Barbara Harris Salisbury Miss Salisbury Classical Vocal, "Mon cœur s'ouvre à ta voix"
1951 Lu Ogburn Smithfield Miss Smithfield Piano, "Malagueña" 2nd runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award

Preliminary Talent Award
1950 Carolyn Edwards Leaksville Miss Tri-City Monologue, "Rumba" by Dorothy Parker Top 16
1949 Nancy Lee Yelverton Rocky Mount Miss Rocky Mount Monologue, "A Delightful Dilemma"
1948 Patsy Osborne Lawndale Miss Shelby Vocal & Piano
1947 Alice White Fayetteville Miss Fayetteville Vocal, "That's My Desire"
1946 Trudy Riley Wilson Miss Wilson
1945 Dorothy Johnson Winston-Salem Miss Winston-Salem Recitation, "I Am Old Glory" Top 13
1944 Betsy Marie Dalton Winston-Salem Miss Winston-Salem
1943 No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant[26]
1942 Hilda Taylor Goldsboro Miss Goldsboro
1941 Joey Augusta Paxton Charlotte 19 Miss Charlotte Swing Vocal 4th runner-up Preliminary Swimsuit Award

Preliminary Talent Award 		Joey Augusta Paxton of Hallandale Beach, Florida died at 79 on September 17, 2002.
1940 Jeanne Wofford Forest City Miss Forest City
1939 Margaret Wood Miss North Carolina Vocal, "If I Didn't Care" Top 15 Preliminary Talent Award Multiple North Carolina representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Marguerite Taylor Charlotte Miss Charlotte
1938 Rebecca Pearl Hankins 18 No Miss North Carolina

Competed as Miss Charlotte at Miss America pageant
1937 Ruth Covington Miss North Carolina Tap Dance, "Gonna Go" 2nd runner-up Multiple North Carolina representatives

Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant
Betty Hunneycutt Charlotte Miss Charlotte Top 16
1936 Thelma Perkins Charlotte Miss Charlotte No Miss North Carolina

Competed as Miss Charlotte at Miss America pageant
1935 No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant[27]
1934 No national pageant was held[28]
1933 Leola Councilman 20 N/A[29]
1932 No national pageants were held[28]
1931
1930
1929
1928
1927 No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant[30][31][32][33]
1926
1925
1924
1923 Rose Hildebrand[34] Asheville Miss Asheville N/A[29] No Miss North Carolina

Competed as Miss Asheville at Miss America pageant
1922 No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant[35][36]
1921

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The 75th Anniversary of Miss North Carolina Gala". Miss North Carolina Sisterhood. 2012. Archived from the original on 7 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  2. ^ "NC Museum of History holds special event in honor of Miss NC anniversary". News 14 Carolina. 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  3. ^ Rupinta, Amber (2021-06-30). "Newly-crowned Miss North Carolina says competition is allowing her to graduate college debt-free". ABC11 Raleigh-Durham. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  4. ^ Huffman, Dillon (June 23, 2019). "Miss Jacksonville Alexandra Badgett crowned Miss NC". WNCT 9 News.
  5. ^ "Miss America 2020 Pageant: Top 15 Contestants Revealed LIVE". Heavy.com. December 19, 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Miss America 2020 Scholarship Award Winners Announced". Miss America Organization. December 19, 2019.
  7. ^ "Reidsville native prepares to give up crown". The News & Advance. May 26, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Rose, Lauren (June 25, 2018). "New Miss North Carolina has Randolph County ties". The Courier-Tribune.
  9. ^ a b DeVane, Steve (June 24, 2017). "Huggins wins Miss North Carolina Pageant". The Fayetteville Observer.
  10. ^ "Two local women competed on Miss America stage". WPDE News. September 10, 2017.
  11. ^ Weiss, Shari (January 20, 2011). "'American Idol' season 10: Steven Tyler, 62, praises 16-year-old Victoria Huggins' skirt length". NY Daily News.
  12. ^ "Miss North Carolina and Miss North Carolina Outstanding Teen crowned". Bladen Online. June 27, 2016.
  13. ^ Dave, Tirusha (August 20, 2016). "The Road to Miss America – Miss North Carolina McKenzie Faggart". Bravura Magazine.
  14. ^ "Miss Dunn Kate Peacock crowned Miss North Carolina". Fayobserver. 20 June 2015.
  15. ^ "UNCW student crowned 2014′s Miss North Carolina". myfox8.com. June 26, 2014.
  16. ^ "Third time's a charm: Johna Edmonds named Miss North Carolina". www.newsobserver.com. June 23, 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-05-03.
  17. ^ "Garner's Arlie Honeycutt wins Miss North Carolina crown". News & Observer. 2012. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2012.
  18. ^ "Hailey Best Crowned As New Miss North Carolina". WFMY News 2. June 27, 2011. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011.
  19. ^ "2012 Miss America Pageant - Duke of Edinburgh Awards Presentation". Archived from the original on 2021-12-21.
  20. ^ "Original Miss N.C. Loses Tiara Tug of War". ABC News. 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  21. ^ Womble, Jeffery (1993-03-06). "Fayetteville Teen Brings Home State Pageant Crown". The Fayetteville Observer.
  22. ^ Ellis, Ralph (1980-03-16). "N.C. Pageant Title goes to Kannapolis Beauty". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  23. ^ Turner, Troy (2018-04-22). "No stopping now: Auburn teen won national crown, but guess what she's doing next?". Opelika-Auburn News. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  24. ^ Robinson, Henry (1983-09-25). "Miss NC Appreciates the Pageant's Progress". Asheville Citizen-Times. Retrieved 2018-06-28.
  25. ^ Leviton, Joyce (July 23, 1979). "Without Her Beauty Crown, the Dethroned Debbie Shook Doesn't Feel Naked—Just Livid". People Magazine. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
  26. ^ "1943 Candidates". Miss America.
  27. ^ "1935 Candidates". Miss America.
  28. ^ a b "Miss America Timeline: 1901–1950". PBS.
  29. ^ a b Schnitzspahn, Karen (September 8, 1997). "There She Was – Miss Long Branch". Asbury Park Press. Asbury Park, New Jersey. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com. ...talent contest that was established in 1935.
  30. ^ "1927 Candidates". Miss America.
  31. ^ "1926 Candidates". Miss America.
  32. ^ "1925 Candidates". Miss America.
  33. ^ "1924 Candidates". Miss America.
  34. ^ "Golden Apple Is Sought by Scores". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. September 6, 1923. p. 11 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ "1922 Candidates". Miss America.
  36. ^ "1921 Candidates". Miss America.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miss_North_Carolina&oldid=1215196401"