Honoring 100 Years of Miss Asheville
100 Years of service, leadership, volunteerism, community engagement, and so much more.
Guest post by Sophia Kellstrom, Miss Asheville 2024
From our very first Miss Asheville 1923 Rose Hildebrand to our centennial celebration. I am honored to share the title, opportunity and legacy of Miss Asheville with so many other deserving and inspiring women.
The Miss Asheville title not only carries an amazing weight within the local community, but also on a state and national level as well. Connie Lerner, Miss Asheville 1970, became the first Jewish Miss NC. Lisa Masters, Miss Asheville 1983, is known also for being a national Botox Spokesperson and successful actress on projects like; Stepford Wives, and Gossip Girl. Susie Profitt, from Asheville held the title Miss Asheville 1972, and later became Miss NC in 1976 as Miss Rutherford County. Windsor Hanger, Miss Asheville 2008, studied at Harvard University and went on to become the Co-Founder, President, and Publisher of “Her Campus” which is the #1 global community for college women, covering Style, Beauty, Health, Love, Life, Career, & more with chapters at 350+ colleges.
There has only been one Miss North Carolina to ever win Miss America and she was a Miss Asheville first. Maria Beale Fletcher made history in 1962 when she earned the Miss America Crown. Maria not only represented the Nation beautifully, but she planted a seed of opportunity and possibility for everyone in the state of North Carolina, especially the Asheville community.
The magnitude of wearing this golden centennial crown is not lost on me. I have felt such a sense of gratitude and appreciation for each and every appearance, fundraiser, school visit and civic event that I have been a part of thus far in my reign as Miss Asheville.
This community is like no other, I have worked and will continue to Make A Change in the Asheville area with my community service initiative of fighting food insecurity. I hope to leave a legacy of inspiring our youth to volunteerism and planting the seed of a philanthropic mindset. I not only want to be remembered as the centennial queen, but as a hard working title holder who made it her mission to be a continuation and extension of the incredible legacy of world changers that have worn this crown before me.
I am beyond blessed to wear this crown on my head and represent Asheville across my chest at this year’s Miss North Carolina Competition and I can’t wait to bring some “Mountain Magic” to the Tar Heel State!
About the Miss North Carolina Organization
As an official state preliminary associated with the Miss America Opportunity, the Miss North Carolina Organization (MNCO) is a part of the largest scholarship-providing organization for women worldwide. Promoting an emphasis on academics and communication skills, the MNCO is considered a launching pad for young women to further their academic and career goals. Taylor Loyd currently serves as Miss North Carolina 2023. Hanley House, crowned Miss North Carolina’s Teen 2023, became the first teen from North Carolina to win the national title as Miss America’s Teen 2024. Annika Schneider has been crowned by House and now serves as Miss North Carolina’s Teen 2023. For more information about volunteering or competing, please visit www.missnc.org.
