Two young women emerged as victors Saturday night in a pageant sponsored by the Miss Kinston-Lenoir County Pageant Association.
Juannette Roache, 23, and Chasity Caraway, 16, were named Miss Kinston-Lenoir County 2014 and Miss Kinston-Lenoir County’s Outstanding Teen for 2014, respectively, in the 60th annual program, held at the Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center. Their next step in the franchised preliminary of the Miss America Pageant is the state program in June.
Roache, an Elizabeth State University student whose platform is “Helping Out People Everywhere Program,” said she was excited to get the chance to represent Lenoir County.
“I plan on promoting my platform here in Kinston and working closely with the community,” she said. “I just want to be a leader and role model that people can be inspired by. I’m very humbled and blessed to be given this title and I plan on working very hard to make Kinston proud.”
For her talent, Roache performed a Polynesian dance, which the crowd greeted with a smattering of applause.
In the Miss Kinston-Lenoir County competition, Brittany Thornton, a student at ECU, was first runner-up and also took home the talent award. She also tied with Morgan Sutton for top honors in the swimsuit competition. Tracie Taylor, 17, a student at South Lenoir High School won the Community Service and Congeniality awards.
Caraway, a student at Arendell Parrott Academy, said she was happy to have been selected as Miss Kinston-Lenoir County’s Outstanding Teen.
“I’m very excited to work with Juannette and the community. I’m excited to serve and I’m just ready,” she said.
For her talent, Caraway sang a popular song from the musical “The Phantom of the Opera.”
In the Outstanding Teen contest, Shae Malham, 12, a student at Princeton Middle School, was first runner-up. Kayla Grady, 14, a student at South Lenoir, won the Community Service award and Brianna Bass, 14, a student at Southern Wayne High School captured the congeniality award. In addition to winning the title of Miss Outstanding Teen, Caraway also won the talent and fitness awards.
Connie Dorn Rist, Miss Kinston 1971, Miss N.C. 1972 and First runner up to Miss America 1973, served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening. Maggie Nelms, Miss Kinston-Lenoir County 2013, and Makenzie Sasnett, Miss Kinston-Lenoir County’s Outstanding Teen for 2013, were on hand to crown their respective successors.
Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @nclark763.
Breakout
Winnings
Miss Kinston-Lenoir County 2014 Juannette Roache
$1,250 Max Blizzard Memorial Scholarship
Crown, sash, trophy and crown box
$500 wardrobe allowance
Interview coaching, Mayor B.J. Murphy
Lenox China
Teeth whitening, Dr. Scott Matthews
$100 Mary Kay gift certificate
16 x 20 portrait, Potter Photography and Design
Gift certificate from Jewel’s Formals
Gift certificate from Foxy Lady
First runner-up: $250 cash scholarship, trophy, flowers
Preliminary winners: $50 cash scholarship and trophy per winner
Community Service: trophy
Congeniality: trophy
Outstanding Teen 2014 Chasity Caraway
State entry fee paid
Crown, sash, trophy and crown box
$300 wardrobe allowance
Interview coaching, Mayor B.J. Murphy
Teeth whitening, Dr. Scott Matthews
Flowers, Heritage House Florist
16 x 20 portrait, Potter Photography and Design
Gift Certificate from Jewel’s Formals
Gift Certificate from Foxy Lady
First runner-up: $100 cash scholarship, trophy, flowers
Preliminary winners: $50 cash scholarship and trophy per winner
Community Service: trophy
Congeniality: trophy