Beauty queens preparing for state pageant
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 29, 2015 1:46 PM
Victoria Baskett
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Emily Tucker
Two years ago, Victoria Baskett was fighting for her life in the North Carolina Children's Hospital.
"In June 2013, I was on life support and a medically induced coma for four days and in the hospital for about four days after that," she said. "I had something called Ludwig's angina."
The reigning Miss Goldsboro 2015 recalls them as being the "most terrifying days of my life."
"I was in summer school (at UNC) in Chapel Hill, had just completed freshman year and was staying in Chapel Hill for the summer," she said. "I went to five different health care providers in five days, was misdiagnosed with strep throat.
"The fifth doctor found the true diagnosis and I was put straight into emergency surgery."
Her ailment originated from a stone, like a calcium deposit, behind her jawbone and became abscessed. She said her entire chin and neck area became drastically swollen.
In addition to the surgery, she was placed on life support as well as in a medically-induced coma.
Today she has a clean bill of health.
Miss Baskett, now 21, had competed in pageants growing up but when she finished high school, told her mother she was "hanging up my high heels" for Carolina.
After her own health scare, though, she recognized it as an opportunity.
"I wanted to compete again to tell my story," she said of her message for others "to be persistent about their health care."
She now works with several agencies and organizations, including being a member of the state and national Patient and Family Advisory Council.
The title of her platform, "Get In Tune and Just Breathe," was derived from a combination of her talent, playing the flute since sixth grade, and her experience at the hospital.
"I was always told to get in tune," she said of the former. "I relate that to being in tune with your body.
"And 'just breathe' is what I was told before I was placed in surgery. The doctor said, 'Your only job is to just breathe.' That's one of those times when a simple task seems so difficult."
From Fayetteville, she is majoring in exercise and sports science and hopes to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. She plans to graduate from UNC in May 2016.
She is currently preparing to compete in the Miss North Carolina pageant, which will air on Time Warner Cable on June 20. The 78th annual scholarship pageant will be held in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium.
Three dozen contestants are vying for the title, including another Goldsboro representative.
Emily Tucker, a 2009 graduate of Eastern Wayne High School and 2013 graduate of East Carolina University, was Miss Baskett's predecessor, as Miss Goldsboro 2014. She competed in last year's Miss North Carolina pageant, where she placed in the Top 10.
She has since been crowned Miss Greater Sampson County and will compete again in this year's state event.
There is a way for the public to cast votes for their favorite contestant before the actual pageant. Each contestant prepared a video message, which can be found online.
Time Warner Cable Viewers Choice Video also has an added perk -- the contestant receiving the most views (or votes) will become part of the Top 11 on pageant night.
Voting ends June 17 at 11:59 p.m.
To view Miss Baskett's video, visit www.twcnews.com/stories/2015/05/6/m/miss-goldsboro-victoria-baskett.html.
Miss Tucker's video was filmed on Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and reflects her platform, "United We Stand, Together We Serve." It can be found at http://www.twcnews.com/stories/2015/05/6/m/miss-greater-sampson-county-emily-tucker.html.