06/27/2026 High Point, NC – Lauryn Mallard, representing Charlotte in the Miss North Carolina Competition, was crowned Miss North Carolina 2026 at the High Point Theatre on Saturday evening. Mallard promoted her Community Service Initiative of “Fight with Grace: Fundraising and Advocating for Childhood Cancer.” She performed a lyrical dance to “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” This was Mallard’s fifth time competing for the title, previously placing as a Semi-Finalist in 2023 as Miss Jacksonville and in the Top Five in 2022 (Miss Randolph County, 3rd Runner-Up), 2024 (Miss Ballantyne, 2nd Runner-Up and Preliminary Evening Gown Award), and 2025 (Miss Caldwell County, 3rd Runner-Up and Preliminary Talent Award).
The Miss division awarded over $84,500 in scholarships and grants to the contestants throughout the competition week. Mallard, a native of Advance, North Carolina, received a total of $20,000 in awards and will represent North Carolina in the Miss America 2027 competition.
Top Five Placement:
- Miss North Carolina ($20,000 Scholarship funded by Pat Stone in memory of Kenneth Allen Smith) — Miss Charlotte – Lauryn Mallard
- 1st Runner-Up ($7,500 Scholarship) — Miss Wendell – Carly Peeters
- 2nd Runner-Up ($3,000 Scholarship) — Miss Mount Holly – Taylor Foley
- 3rd Runner-Up ($2,000 Scholarship) — Miss Orange County – McKayla Young
- 4th Runner-Up ($1,500 Scholarship) — Miss Central Carolina – Hannah Welborn-Lewis
Top Eleven Semi-Finalists:
- Miss Stanly County – Lena Preslar ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Lake Norman – Brooke Tomberlin ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Ballantyne – D’Amrah Rowdy ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Cabarrus County – Josie Perdue ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Statesville – Amber Potts ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Goldsboro – Hayden Pearson ($500 Scholarship)
- Miss Orange County – McKayla Young
- Miss Wendell – Carly Peeters
- Miss Central Carolina – Hannah Welborn-Lewis
- Miss Mount Holly – Taylor Foley
- Miss Charlotte – Lauryn Mallard
Additional On-Stage Scholarships Awarded:
- Jeanne Swanner Robertson Congeniality Award ($1,000 Scholarship by Est. of Jeanne Swanner Robertson, Miss North Carolina 1963) – Miss Orange County – McKayla Young
- Most Talented Non-Finalist Award ($500 Scholarship by the Squibb family in honor of Ryanne Squibb) – Miss Wilmington – Andi Creech
- Non-Finalist Interview Award ($500 Scholarship by Julie Caudle Fields) – Miss Johnston County – Kate White
- Karen Bloomquist Rookie Award ($1,000 Grant by Karen Bloomquist Elson, Miss North Carolina 1986) – Miss Stanly County – Lena Preslar
- Susan Griffin Fisher (Miss North Carolina 1974) Best in Vocal Talent Award ($500 Scholarship by Family and Friends) – Miss Mount Holly – Taylor Foley
About the Miss North Carolina Organization
As an official state preliminary associated with the Miss America Organization, the Miss North Carolina Organization is a part of the largest scholarship-providing organization for women in the world. 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. Lauryn Mallard currently serves as Miss North Carolina 2026, and Camdyn Lee serves as Miss North Carolina’s Teen 2026. For more information about volunteering or competing, please visit www.missnc.org.
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Photo Credit: Lenn Long – PageantPics
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