Miss North Carolina, an NCCU Sophomore of Tenacity

Carrie Everett began preparing for the Miss North Carolina pageanteven before she won the Miss Johnston County pageant in December 2023. She practicedsinging - she sang "And I Am Telling You"fromthe musical "Dreamgirls"during the Miss North Carolina competition- engaged in mock interviews, watched many hours of other pageants and practiced walking.

"A lot of people compare pageantry to modeling," Everett said. "I wanted to make sure I could walk on heels and show confidence on stage."

Everett is a first-generation American, born and raised in Washington state. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Liberia.

This fall she returned to North Carolina Central University(NCCU) as a sophomore. Everettenrolled at NCCU out of a desire to attend a historically Black university and for its music program - she is a vocal performance major. In particular, she likes singing gospel music - "That has to do with my upbringing in church" - along with R&B and classicalmusic.

Over her freshmanyear, she trained as a singerwithRoberta Laws, a professor of musicanddirector of the university choir; covering such skills asuse ofbreath, supportand resonance in speaking. She practiced by singing classical, negro spirituals and musical theater.

"It's a beautiful singing voice," Laws said. "She is a mezzo soprano. A beautiful warm sound. She is extremely expressive. She is a wonderful interpreter of text and has the potential to become a stunning singing actress."

The competition for Miss North Carolina is longer than most people know. Competitors take part in several preliminary nights that include stage interviews, fitness, talentand evening gown. Then during the Saturday finals, the top ten finalistsdo it all over again in one night.

"It's hectic but you have to stay on your toes," Everett said.

With her crowning asMiss North Carolinain June 2024, Everett won $23,500 in scholarship money plus the use of a Lincoln SUV for one year.

Over the next year Everett will make appearancesall over North Carolina, some of which will support We Need Equity to Build Communities, an effort to make pageants more equitableand accessible to young people.

"A lot of young women don't have the resources to compete in pageantry," Everett said.

She seeksto recruit people to the effort, raise money for young women who cannotafford to pay entry fees and perhaps opena wardrobe closet where donated evening gowns and other clothing would be available to participants.

Outside of university and pageants, Everett is a woman of many talents, some of them unexpected. As part of her fitness training,for example,she lifts weights. Her record, from two to three years ago, is lifting 300 pounds.

While in high school, she played football. Tackle football, not flag.

"I think a lot of time I was underestimated because I was the only girl on the team," Everett said.

In January 2025, Everett will compete in the Miss America pageant.

After graduation, Everettplans to pursue a master's degree, then become a performer, hopefully singing gospel.

"I am extremely proud of her ambition and her tenacity to go after something that was clearly important to her," Laws said. "I am sure she will approach everything in her career with that same tenacity.

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