Spotlight Profiles

Hailey Gray was crowned Miss Sandhills’ Teen 2027 on Oct. 3 in Thomasville. Her talent is a HERStory about losing her voice and learning to use it again, and her “Hailey’s Hope” initiative puts free books in children’s hands.

Rachel Grace Leonard was crowned Miss Thomasville 2027 on Oct. 3 at the T. Austin Finch Auditorium, bringing Fueling Futures, a food insecurity initiative rooted in the Title I school where she watched classmates come to school hungry.

McKenzie Louise Govern was crowned Miss Davidson County’s Teen 2027 on Oct. 3 at the T. Austin Finch Auditorium, bringing a community service initiative for the mental health of first responders and their families.

Ella Grace White was crowned Miss Thomasville’s Teen 2027 on Oct. 3 at the T. Austin Finch Auditorium, bringing a community service initiative that raises scholarships and recognition for dancers as athletes.

Emma Taylor was crowned Miss Moore County’s Teen 2027 on Sept. 26 at the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center, bringing a nonprofit she founded to fund service dogs for veterans living with PTSD.

Calista Nicole Deal of Pembroke, N.C., was crowned Miss Sandhills 2027, carrying a Community Service Initiative built to give young people a safe place to talk about mental health.

Ashley Leonard was crowned Miss Moore County 2027 on Sept. 26 at the Bradshaw Performing Arts Center in Pinehurst, bringing a community service initiative built on her own experience as a childhood survivor of domestic violence.

Ava Rose Craven was crowned Miss Chapel Hill’s Teen 2027 on Sept. 19 at East Chapel Hill High School, bringing a community service initiative that teaches children etiquette as everyday kindness through a book she wrote herself.

Nora Paige Isenhour was crowned Miss Orange County’s Teen 2027 on Sept. 19 at East Chapel Hill High School, bringing a community service initiative that pairs her competitive archery with support for combat veterans with PTSD.

McKayla Young was crowned Miss Chapel Hill 2027 on Sept. 19 at East Chapel Hill High School, bringing a community service initiative built on removing the barriers between people and what comes next.