Miss LCC Prepares For State Pageant

Mary Catherine Lanier, the newly crowned Miss Lenoir Community College, recently completed the Miss North Carolina Pageant's work weekend. This event is the annual first-time gathering of all the representatives competing for the crown of Miss North Carolina.

Lanier, along with Miss LCC executive director Mitch Butts, trainer Sandy Croom, and Outstanding Teen representative Alexus Hayes, arrived in Raleigh and went into immediate rehearsals for the state pageant to be held June 18-24, in Raleigh's Memorial Auditorium.

Saturday's events included meetings with pageant officials, judges, and choreographers. On Saturday evening, Lanier, along with the 25 other preliminary queens, were introduced to Raleigh at The Triangle Town Center Mall; an autograph session followed.

According to Butts, Miss LCC was one of the most popular representatives and had a constant line of admirers wanting her picture and autograph. On Sunday, all the representatives were in meetings with pageant officials who gave last minute instructions on the pressures of the upcoming competition.
Miss LCC will have a busy schedule during the pageant week in June. She will arrive in Raleigh on Sunday, June 16 and will begin immediate preparations for the final production night.

Lanier's schedule of preliminary events are evening gown on Tuesday, June 20; physical fitness in swimsuit on Wednesday, June 21; talent on Thursday; June 22; and interview on Friday, June 23.

The final competition of the top 10 contestants is on Saturday, June 22, at 8 p.m. Local photographer Issac Hines provided the official Miss North Carolina Photograph of Lanier.

For her issue of concern, Lanier has chosen helping displaced workers re-invent themselves through the community college system.

"Many North Carolina-based companies have closed or have chosen to re-locate to different states or countries," she said. "This leaves many people without a job. Most of these workers are middle-aged, and they often do not know what to do or where to go to look for another job."

"Most do not realize that the community college system in North Carolina has programs designed specifically aimed at displaced workers. I would love to spend a year as Miss North Carolina in order to promote the community college and its advantages to the many unemployed and displaced workers in the state."

For her talent, Miss Lanier will present a pop vocal of the Linda Eder hit, "If I Had My Way." Max Blizzard has provided the accompliment tape for Lanier's talent competition.

"Mary Catherine had a great work weekend. She met all the girls, and she made a very positive impression on everyone. She was poised and lovely," Butts said. " I feel she will have a wonderful pageant experience in June."

Mary Catherine Lanier (right), the current Miss Lenoir Community College attended a work weekend along with Alexus Hayes (left) Down East's Outstanding Teen.