Ansleigh Thrash of North Topsail Beach, N.C., was crowned Miss Wendell’s Teen 2027 on Oct. 17, 2026, at Bunn High School in Bunn.
Thrash takes the title with a community service initiative aimed at both ends of the age range. S.W.A.T. — Safety With All Technology — carries digital citizenship instruction to students and to senior adults, and her stated goal is to put online safety education within reach of every generation. She works on it with Cyber Seniors Corp. and Common Sense Education.
Thrash traces the initiative to her own experience. S.W.A.T., she said, “was inspired by my own experience with cyberbullying at nine years old. I wanted to turn that experience into something positive by helping others feel safer and more confident online.”
“Through S.W.A.T. I teach students and senior adults about digital citizenship, cyberbullying prevention, online privacy, misinformation, and technology scams,” Thrash said. She gives educational presentations, shares safety tips through social media and helps people recognize and respond to digital threats. “My goal is to make online safety education accessible to everyone, from kindergarteners to grandparents,” she said.
Thrash is a sophomore at Dixon High School, in the 10th grade. She has danced for 14 years, and in the talent category she performed an upbeat tap dance to James Brown’s “Super Bad,” a piece she chose because “its rhythm and bold style let me showcase my technique while having fun onstage.” She describes herself as a dancer, tennis player and avid reader, with interests in anime, Pokémon and aviation, and she has designed and coded a video game that teaches players how to build safe passwords.
One service moment she returns to involves her grandmother, who recognized a fake Netflix text message after Thrash had taught her about online scams. “Seeing her put what she learned into action reinforced why I want to make sure people of every generation have the tools to navigate technology safely,” Thrash said.
Thrash has held two previous titles in the Miss America Opportunity: Miss Rose Hill’s Teen 2025, where she was third runner-up, and Miss Goldsboro’s Teen 2026, where she was a Top 11 finalist and took a Preliminary Evening Gown Award. She also lists six Carolina Princess titles between 2017 and 2023.
Thrash is interested in atmospheric science and aviation, and hopes to work as an atmospheric scientist while earning commercial pilot qualifications. She has competed in the Miss America Opportunity for more than a decade. “I’m grateful for the friendships, mentorship, and opportunities that continue to shape the person I want to become,” she said.
Thrash will represent Wendell at the Miss North Carolina’s Teen competition in High Point in June 2027.
Thrash can be followed on Instagram at @misswendellsteen_nc.
