Pageant lovers, family members and local residents came out Sunday to support Lenoir County’s representatives for the 2015 Miss North Carolina pageant and the 2015 Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen pageant. The wardrobe showing took place at the Kinston Community Council for the Arts.
“Today, we’re doing a wardrobe showing,” Morgan Sutton, Miss Kinston Lenoir County 2015, said, “which is just showing our wardrobe to the community and whoever wants to see it. I think it’s for the people who can’t come to Miss North Carolina, then they can still be here, see our wardrobe and have the experience.”
Carlie Powell, Miss Kinston-Lenoir County’s Outstanding Teen 2015, agreed.
“It’s kind of like a dress rehearsal,” Powell said, “without really having one. It’s good to have it here, just to run through things. It’s really helpful to me.”
The wardrobe showing gave the competitors a chance to make sure they have everything ready for the state competition in Raleigh, June 17-20.
“Having the wardrobe showing is really nice,” Sutton said, “because if you’re forgetting something or something’s not right, you have a little bit of time to fix it before State instead of walking out and figuring it out too late.”
Both of the young ladies said the pageant circuit truly was made up of a supportive sisterhood.
“We had work weekend in April, which is where we got to meet the other contestants and they’re all really nice and I really bonded with one of them,” Sutton said. “The sisterhood is a real thing. People always say it, but I didn’t understand it until I was in it and experiencing it.”
Powell made a friend from Durham in the Teen circuit.
“She’s Miss Garner’s Outstanding Teen, but she lives in Durham,” she said, “so I never would’ve met her without this system and it’s just really nice to know it brings all these people together.”
One of the most important things about the pageant experience for both Sutton and Powell has been the growth in confidence they've both experienced.
“I’m learning more about myself,” Sutton said. “I used to doubt myself a lot and this organization is about uplifting you and others. I’ve grown a lot through this. It’s been interesting and it’s been challenging at times, but it’s been a blast.”
The system has taught both ladies more about themselves and about service.
“I have found myself in the system,” Powell said. “I am more confident than I ever thought I would be. I’m more laid back and it’s made me push through and show really who I am, and I’ve absolutely loved it.”
Both contestants said they appreciated the opportunity the pageant gave them to learn about hair and makeup techniques.
Jessica Murphy and Mary Beth Dawson are the co-executive directors for the pageants in Lenoir County. They're hoping one or both Kinston-Lenoir County representatives will bring home the crown.
“It has been awesome to see the girls' growth,” Murphy said. “I know first-hand from being Miss Kinston how you can grow in this program because I was not a public speaker, and I learned through interview and all the skills that I developed how to speak to people and how to work a room when needed.”
Dawson helped organize Sunday’s event. She said the event allows the girls to thank the community for their support.
“Everyone’s outfits are pretty top-secret leading up to the pageant,” Dawson said, “so it’s just letting the community get a preview of what the girls will be doing at Miss North Carolina and it gives them a chance to get to meet some people they might not have met yet and picture opportunities for the community.”
Another important aspect of the pageant circuit is the service representation. Sutton’s campaign is Think Pink for breast cancer awareness. She plans to pursue a career in plastic surgery and to specialize in breast reconstruction for breast cancer survivors.
Powell’s campaign is Give Blood in conjunction with the American Red Cross. She has appeared at several blood drives across the county.
The pageants are scheduled to be televised at 7 p.m. June 20 on Time Warner Cable Sports Channel. The event will be available for viewing at twcnews.com.
Jennifer Cannon may be reached at 252-559-1073 or at Jennifer.Cannon@Kinston.com. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @JennylynnCannon.
2015 Miss North Carolina and Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen pageants
When: 7 p.m., June 20
Where: Time Warner Cable Sports Channel or twcnews.com