The 2022 North Carolina Rhododendron Queen Taylor Loyd won the Miss North Carolina pageant on Saturday, June 24th. She will now compete for Miss America 2024. The date for that pageant has not been announced. Loyd was representing Statesville in the contest. Several former Rhododendron queens competed Saturday evening including the 2017 NC Rhododendron Queen Hannah Wellborn Lewis. Lewis placed second in the pageant. Also competing was 2018 Queen Anna Claire Musick. Alyssa Hemphill, who is the former 2022 Jr. Rhododendron Queen, competed in Miss North Carolina Teen finals. The NC Rhododendron Pageant, held in Bakersville for 76 years, is considered one of the most prestigious in the state and is often a feeder pageant for the Miss North Carolina contest.
2024 NC Rhododendron Queen Karlee Sanderford with newly crowned Miss North Carolina Taylor Loyd. (photo courtesy North Carolina Rhododendron Queen Facebook page)
