Bailey Stamper reigns as Miss Goldsboro 2018
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on November 12, 2017 4:25 PM
Miss Goldsboro 2018 Bailey Stamper waves to the crowd after being crowned Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre.
Bailey Stamper competes in the talent portion of the Miss Goldsboro Scholarship Pageant. Stamper also took home the Rhonda Wells Greenup talent award as well as awards for community service and advertising sales.
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Michaelah Grace Hall is crowned Miss Goldsboro's Outstanding Teen 2018 Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre.
An 18-year-old Charles B. Aycock High School graduate was crowned Miss Goldsboro 2018 on Saturday night at the Paramount Theatre.
Bailey Stamper, now a freshman at East Carolina University, also won the evening's awards for talent, community service and ad sales.
Michaelah Grace Hall was crowned 2018 Miss Goldsboro Outstanding Teen.
The 14-year-old Clinton High School student also won the People's Choice and talent awards. She performed a contemporary clogging routine.
Stamper demonstrated her poise throughout the evening, including a wardrobe malfunction during her tap dance to "Can't Stop the Feeling." Wearing a black jumpsuit with white suspenders, at one point one of the suspender straps fell down and she didn't miss a beat -- letting it slide and keeping her smile, and her fancy footwork, on track.
The daughter of Thayer and Amy Stamper of Goldsboro, Bailey had competed in last year's Miss Goldsboro pageant and had served as fair queen for Wayne Regional Agricultural Fair for 2016. Her platform is "Cure SMA."
A student in the honors program at ECU studying marketing, she shared what it meant to hear her name called for the preliminary pageant in the Miss America organization.
"I'm ecstatic. I'm freaking out, and I'm so excited," she said afterward. "I wanted to join an outstanding group of women who stand for the same values as I do, and I'm looking forward to representing Goldsboro this year.
"I'm most looking forward to getting out into the community and meeting people and serving Goldsboro."
Four contestants were vying for title of Miss Goldsboro. Other winners included Alexis Brown, first runner-up and Miss Congeniality and Emily Mitchell was named People's Choice.
There were also four contestants for the outstanding teen category.
Having fewer numbers meant organizers only presented first runner-up and winner awards, along with the other recognitions.
Other recognitions for outstanding teens included first runner-up, Sarah Katz; Sarah Pope, Miss Congeniality; and Mary Michael Wood, top ad sales.
This year's event coincided with Veterans Day, incorporating the occasion in several ways -- local veterans escorted the teen contestants onto the stage, while the finale and entertainment also featured a patriotic theme.
A former title winner was also honored posthumously.
Terri Ham Kornegay, Miss Goldsboro 1980, passed away last year from cancer. Her son, Jay Kornegay, performed "I Can't Help Loving You" with Blair Mozingo, his girlfriend and one of the evening's emcees. Mozingo -- Miss Goldsboro 2012 -- also wore a black evening gown Terri had worn as a contestant.
Stamper and Hall will now advance to the Miss North Carolina pageant next June, where they will again compete in their respective categories.