Miss North Carolina begins with preliminary competition Wednesday
By From staff reports
Published in News on June 23, 2016 1:46 PM
RALEIGH -- Forty-one young women competing for the title of Miss North Carolina 2016 and 41 vying to be the state's Outstanding Teen participated in the first round of preliminary competition Wednesday evening.
There are three nights of preliminary rounds, with contestants divided into groups and participating in different categories each evening.
The reigning Miss Goldsboro, Casey Croom, is participating in the week-long event, which culminates with the Miss North Carolina pageant on Saturday evening at Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium.
Miss Winston-Salem, Kacy Lee, took top honors in the group that presented talent Wednesday evening, while Kylee Russell, Miss Mount Holly, and Ashton Gill, Miss Clayton, tied in the lifestyle and fitness award in swimsuit. Miss Clayton also received the Kate Peacock Teaching Fellowship Scholarship.
An award named for a former local contestant was also presented. The Beth Christine Stovall Music Scholarship was awarded to Miss Capital City, Nia Franklin. Miss Stovall, a former Miss Goldsboro, was also Miss North Carolina 2014.
Isabella Gaines of Wilmington is also representing the community as Goldsboro's Outstanding Teen.
The Outstanding Teen competition kicked off Wednesday evening with its first two preliminary competitions. Miss Wilmington, Christen Oliver, received the talent award, while Miss Cumberland County's Outstanding Teen, Meri-Morgan Lochner, received the award in the evening gown/on-stage question category.