Clayton native crowned Miss North Carolina Teen 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Clayton native Kamryn Hollowell will represent North Carolina at the Miss America’s Teen pageant.

“I was shocked. I wasn’t expecting it. I had been working hard for three years,” said Hollowell.

Kamryn said she plans to spend the next year representing the state, but also advocating for a special cause.

“My community service initiative is Project Purple. I will be advocating for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis patients across North Carolina,” she said about her commitment to the cause.

It’s a mission that started for her at age nine before she started competing for Miss North Carolina’s Teen.

“I started it because my mom was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was very young,” said Hollowell, of Statesville.

Kamryn says she has spent most of her life watching her mom fight through the pain of this condition. But she says it has been a learning experience to prepare her for this moment to shine a bigger spotlight on her mom’s condition and bring about change for others experiencing it.

“You may not always see the bigger picture but always continue to grow. Listen to the people around you and take in the words of advice. I have been doing that for years, and it paid off for me,” she said.

In addition to the crown, Kamryn earned a $7,500 scholarship and additional scholarships for preliminary evening gown honor and community service impact.

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