HIGH POINT — For the first time in Miss North Carolina’s history, Miss Statesville was the last name called when the Queen of the Tarheel State was crowned. Taylor Loyd, a senior at UNC Chapel Hill, was named the 85th Miss North Carolina and earned the right to compete for the title of Miss America.
Loyd’s win capped off a week of pageantry in High Point North Carolina that saw over $116,000 in scholarships awarded to the contestants from across the state. Loyd succeeds Karolyn Martin, an Appalachian State University graduate, who will step away from the crown to enter law school at UNC School of Law in the fall.
In addition to the Miss North Carolina competition, for women aged 18 to 28, the Miss North Carolina’s Teen competition hosted contestants from 13 to 17 years of age. Hanley House, a high school junior from Clayton, took home the title of Miss North Carolina’s Teen.
House, representing Miss Cleveland, an unincorporated community in Johnston County and Ava Socarras from Gastonia were the first names called for awards on Thursday during the first day of teen preliminary competition with the pair tying for the evening gown preliminary award.
Carrie Rader representing Queen City took home the first teen preliminary talent award and a $500 scholarship.
In the Miss preliminary talent segment, Loyd wowed the judges with her operatic vocal performance of “Amour, raiment mon courage” from Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliette” taking the preliminary award for talent and a $1,000 scholarship. Hannah Welborn-Lewis from Sandhills received Thursday’s evening gown award and a $1,000 scholarship.
On Friday, Annika Schneider, representing Metrolina, won the teen preliminary evening gown segment and a $250 scholarship. A three-way tie occurred in the teen preliminary talent category. Mia Geter representing Charlotte Mecklenburg, Colleen McDermott representing Johnston County, and Hanley House all delivered outstanding performances, to share the second teen preliminary talent award and received a $500 scholarship each.
Olivia Gray, Miss Carolina Dogwood, won the second preliminary talent award in the Miss NC category. Loyd, like House in the teen category, became a double preliminary winner capturing the second preliminary award for evening gown.
With the conclusion of the preliminary nights, the stage was set for the final competitions with House and Loyd entering as favorites due to their two preliminary awards. House, a high school junior from Clayton, captivated the audience with her dedication to empowering young entrepreneurs through her community service initiative called “Passion to Profit.” Her lyrical dance performance to “Don’t Stop Believing” was a testament to her talent and passion. She took home the crown, the title of Miss North Carolina’s Teen, and the right to compete for the title of Miss America’s Teen.
The remaining top-five in the teen competition were Rishika Karanam from Dunn as the fourth runner-up, Annika Schneider from Metrolina as the third runner-up, Carrie Rader from Queen City as the second runner-up and Colleen McDermott from Johnston County as the first runner-up.
The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived Saturday night as Taylor Loyd, representing Statesville, was crowned Miss North Carolina 2023. Loyd, hailing from Mooresville, impressed the judges with her community service initiative called “Healing Hearts Through the Arts,” which promotes the use of arts for mental health and well-being. She showcased her vocal talent once again with a repeat of her preliminary award-winning operatic vocal performance.
Loyd’s crowning moment came with a $20,000 scholarship and the keys to a new car courtesy of Dunn-based car dealer Knox Auto.
The top five placements in the Miss North Carolina competition were Miss Cleveland Maura Westbrook as the fourth runner-up, Miss Queen City Keelie Jones as the third runner-up, Miss Sandhills Hannah Welborn-Lewis as the second runner-up and Miss Durham Abby Britt as the first runner-up. Britt was also first runner-up in 2022.
The final round began with the announcement of the top fifteen placements which, in addition the top-five, included Miss Iredell County Hannah Harvey, Miss Carolina Dogwood Olivia Gray, Miss Dunn Carlie Spencer, Miss Fayetteville Dogwood Janiya Pipkin, Miss Randolph County Tori Gross, Miss Jacksonville Lauryn Mallard, Miss Greenville Faith May, Miss Charlotte Mecklenburg Jada Carter, Miss Moore County Brittany Putman, Miss Piedmont Jordan Garrick and Miss Clayton Taylor Stovall.
The competition also recognized outstanding achievements with additional awards.
Miss Statesville, Taylor Loyd, received the Karen Bloomquist Elson Rookie Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Morehead City, Macy Messer, was honored with the Jeanne Swanner Robertson Congeniality Scholarship, also a $1,000 scholarship. Miss Ballantyne, Bailey Beam, and Miss Rose Hill, Abigail Batchelor, both received the Non-Finalist Talent Scholarship, a $500 scholarship each. Miss New Bern, Kaylee Spruill, was awarded the Non-Finalist Interview Scholarship, a $500 scholarship.
