# Miss North Carolina

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.
Carrie Everett of Durham was crowned Miss North Carolina 2024 on June 29, 2024, at High Point Theatre in High Point, North Carolina. She will compete for the title of Miss America 2025.

## 75th anniversary

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. 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. It was televised on the special events channel of Time Warner Cable.

## Gallery of past titleholders

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

## Results summary

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

* 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
#### Preliminary awards

* 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

* 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

* 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

* 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 |
| 2024 | Carrie Everett | Durham | 20 | Miss Johnston County | Vocal | | | |
| 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 | 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 | Charlotte | 22 | Miss Jacksonville | Tap Dance, "This Is Me" by Keala Settle | Top 15 | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up Equity & Justice Scholarship Award | Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2012 |
| 2018 | Laura Matrazzo | Chapel Hill | 23 | Miss Metrolina | Rhythm Tap Dance, "Are You Ready for a Miracle?" | | | |
| 2017 | Victoria Huggins | St. Pauls | 23 | Miss Greater Sampson County | Vocal, "I Will Always Love You" | | CMN Miracle Maker Award 1st runner-up | Former contestant on Star Search and American Idol Season 10 |
| 2016 | McKenzie Faggart | Concord | 21 | Miss Mecklenburg County | Lyrical Dance, "Rise Up" | | Non-finalist Talent Award | Previously Miss North Carolina's Outstanding Teen 2011 Top 15 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2012 pageant |
| 2015 | Kate Peacock | Dunn | 19 | Miss Dunn | Tap Dance, "Proud Mary" | | | |
| 2014 | Beth Stovall | Goldsboro | 20 | Miss Greater Sampson County | Classical Vocal, "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta" from La rondine | | Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2013 | Johna Edmonds | Lumberton | 24 | Miss Johnston County | Vocal, "Somewhere" | | | |
| 2012 | Arlie Honeycutt | Garner | 19 | Miss Kinston-Lenoir | Vocal, "Someone Like You" from Jekyll & Hyde | | Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Medal Non-finalist Talent Award | |
| 2011 | Hailey Best | 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 | |
| 2010 | Adrienne Core | Erwin | 22 | Miss Raleigh | Contemporary Clogging, "Soul Man" | | Non-finalist Talent Award Preliminary Talent Award | |
| 2009 | Katherine Southard | Raleigh | 23 | Miss Raleigh | Ballet en pointe, "Fascinating Rhythm" | | | |
| 2008 | Amanda Watson | Raleigh | 21 | Miss Garner | Vocal | | Quality of Life Award Finalist | First Miss America contestant to choose ALS awareness as her platform |
| 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 | | |
| 2002 | 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 | 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 | 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 |
| 2001 | Ashley House | Dallas | 20 | Miss Lincoln County | Celtic Irish Dance, "Flames of Fire" | | | Died on December 24, 2017, at the age of 37 |
| 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 | Miss Garner | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1986 | Karen Bloomquist | Durham | 22 | Miss Durham | Piano | | | |
| 1985 | Joni Parker | Fayetteville | 24 | Miss Fayetteville | Vocal, "The Shadow of Your Smile" | | | |
| 1984 | Francesca Adler | Fayetteville | 23 | Miss Fayetteville | Vocal, "Home" | | | Mother of Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2018, Jessica Baeder |
| 1983 | Deneen Graham | North Wilkesboro | 19 | Miss Elkin Valley | Jazz Dance, "Sing, Sing, Sing" | | | First African American Miss North Carolina |
| 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 |
| 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 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 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Fletcher won Miss America 1962 | Did not compete; later assumed the title after Fletcher won Miss America 1962 |
| 1961 | 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 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 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 |
| 1939 | Marguerite Taylor | Charlotte | | Miss Charlotte | | | | Multiple North Carolina representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 1938 | Rebecca Pearl Hankins | Charlotte | 18 | Miss Charlotte | | | | 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 |
| 1937 | Betty Hunneycutt | Charlotte | | Miss Charlotte | | Top 16 | | Multiple North Carolina representatives Contestants competed under local title at Miss America pageant |
| 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 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1934 | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held | No national pageant was held |
| 1933 | Leola Councilman | | 20 | | N/A | | | |
| 1932 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1931 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1930 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1929 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1928 | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held | No national pageants were held |
| 1927 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1926 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1925 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1924 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1923 | Rose Hildebrand | Asheville | | Miss Asheville | N/A | | | No Miss North Carolina Competed as Miss Asheville at Miss America pageant |
| 1922 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |
| 1921 | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant | No North Carolina representative at Miss America pageant |