06/28/2026
As this week has come to an end, I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey to Miss North Carolina.
I didn’t realize just how many people truly loved and believed in me until this week. While I may not be coming home with a crown, I can confidently say I am leaving with something far more meaningful. I am walking away knowing that someone now feels a little less alone during one of the most difficult seasons of their life and that is a reward no title could ever replace.
This past year through the Miss America Opportunity has been a beautiful reminder that my daddy is still with me, and I know he would be proud of the young woman I’ve become. As you grow older, losing a parent doesn’t get easier, it simply changes. Their absence is felt in different ways, but their love never leaves you.
I am beyond grateful for the friendships I’ve gained through the Miss North Carolina sisterhood and for the opportunity to serve my community in ways I never imagined. I truly believe God has a purpose for every season of our lives, and sometimes His plans look different than the ones we had written for ourselves. Looking back, I wouldn’t trade this year for anything because it has shaped me into the person I am today.
Thank you to the Miss Morganton Scholarship Organization for believing in me over the past two years and for helping me grow into a stronger, more confident version of myself.
As I step into a new chapter, I can’t thank God enough for every lesson, every opportunity, and every person He has placed in my life through the Miss America Opportunity.
Congratulations to the new Miss North Carolina Lauryn Mallard. Lauryn, you have a servant heart and I can’t wait to watch you at Miss America.
Here’s to new beginnings, trusting His timing, and embracing whatever comes next. 💖