Image of Miss North Carolina 1977, Kathy Fleming
2017 marked the 80th anniversary of the Miss North Carolina Scholarship Pageant. Along the way, many incredible pageant winners have gone on to serve their communities, to gain confidence and inspiration that helped them reach success, to receive scholarships that furthered their personal and professional goals, and, once, to win the Miss America crown.
This lobby-case exhibit featured mementos and clothing, a video, and awards from several pageant winners, honoring their memories and legacies.
This temporary display was organized by David Clegg, President, Sisterhood of Miss North Carolina.
Objects on display include:
- a gown and crown worn by Miss North Carolina 1965, Penelope Clark of Sanford;
- a lapel pin that Miss North Carolina 1966, Nannette Jackson Minor, of Charlotte, gave out to thousands of people during her run;
- an evening gown worn by Miss North Carolina 1977, Kathy Fleming, of Hamptonville;
- a two-piece swimsuit worn by Miss North Carolina 1997, Michelle Warren, of Gastonia—the first year rules for Miss America allowed two-piece swimsuits to be worn.
I have seen it from a local level and a national level, how it not only changes the lives of the participants. You don’t have to win for it to change your life. They overcame obstacles simply to compete and by competing, gave themselves such levels of self-confidence, it really did change their lives.
– David Clegg, President, Sisterhood of Miss North Carolina, an organization for the state’s former winners