UNCW student takes home crown for Miss North Carolina USA 2012 | Arts & Culture

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - UNCW senior Sydney Perry was crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2012 on Nov. 12, according to a press release from Yvonne Garand.

Following her win, Perry will go onto compete for the title of Miss USA 2012 in Las Vegas.

The title of Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2012 went to Katherine Puryear.

The two were crowned during a dual competition featuring 89 contestants at the High Point Theatre and Exhibition Center in High Point.

Runners up for Miss North Carolina USA included Whitney Jones, Laura Puleo, Elizabeth Carty and Rachel Gainey.

Runners up for Miss North Carolina Teen USA were Lindsay Baker, Emily Farrington, Victoria Vesce and Shelby Howell.

Perry follows in the footsteps of other Wilmington residents including Miss NC USA 2010 Brittany York, Miss NC USA and Miss USA 2009 Kristen Dalton, Miss NC Teen USA 2008 Julia Dalton, and Miss USA 2005, Chelsea Cooley-Altman. Perry is a Marine Biology major, while Puryear is from Thomasville and is a senior at Trinity High School. 

The judges who elected the winners come from a variety of career backgrounds, including Walt Disney Pictures and E! News. Some were also former reality TV contestants, and directors of other beauty pageants.  

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