Spotlight: Colleen McDermott, Miss Garner’s Teen 2024 | Miss North Carolina Organization

Talent Category: Dance (Irish)

Previous MAO Titles: Moore County’s Teen ’22 (Top 10, Community Service), Johnston County’s Teen ’23 (1st RU, Preliminary Talent)

Hometown: Apex, NC

Current Schooling: A Junior at Cardinal Gibbons High School

What are your scholastic and/or career ambitions? To obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and become a Physical Therapist and Sports Clinical Specialist

Community Service Initiative (CSI): Planet Youth

What are some objectives you have as a titleholder? My CSI Planet Youth empowers kids and teens to be the change for our planet through education, service, and awareness. As Miss Garner’s Teen, I plan to further my work by implementing my environmental educational children’s book, “Love Earth”, into the Garner school system. Also, I plan on continuing my partnership with the Crayon Initiative Organization to reach my new goal of over 15,000 crayons recycled from Garner schools and restaurants. I also plan on continuing to promote my educational podcast, “GreenTeens” in the Garner community to further North Carolina’s youth leadership in environmental action and help Garner go green.

What are some interesting facts abut you? I’ve traveled internationally to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Canada for Irish Dance competitions; I have a dog named after the actress Betty White; I’ve qualified for the World Irish Dance Championships 7 times; I can recite all of the U.S. states in song alphabetically.

What do you enjoy doing for fun? I enjoy going to dance class/competing in Irish dance competitions, writing for my school newspaper, reading, going on Starbucks runs with my friends, and having reality TV shows marathons with my family!