Miss Clemson crowned Miss South Carolina 2024, prelim winner in talent, evening gown

Edgefield, South Carolina native Davis Was h was crowned Miss South Carolina 2024 Saturday night after holding the title Miss Clemson 2024.

Wash is 23 years old and from Edgefield. She sang " Ain't No Sunshine" by Bill Withers and was previously a top-three preliminary winner in the Miss Talent, Evening Gown, and Fitness categories.Wash received a $60,000 scholarship and will compete for the title of Miss America later this year.The Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization also named four additional delegates as runners-up in the 2023 Miss South Carolina competition:

• First runner-up: Miss Myrtle Beach, Brooke Vu
• Second runner-up: Miss Midlands, Ally Grooms
• Third runner-up: Miss Camden, Jules Lemonds
• Fourth runner-up: Miss Columbia, Jordyn Lewis

Miss SC Pageant

Each year, the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization holds its annual pageant to showcase the talents, intelligence, and beauty of young women from across the state.

The organization awards scholarships to the winner, which can significantly impact their future educational and career paths.

According to the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization , since 1937, 86 women have been crowned Miss South Carolina.

Last year's winner was Greenville native Jada Samuels , a University of South Carolina graduate.

Clemson alum Davis Wash crowned Miss South Carolina

This year, 40 contestants from across the state competed in the Miss South Carolina Pageant Preliminary Competition held in Columbia at the Township Auditorium from June 26 to June 29.

Each contestant participated in a series of competition phases that assessed their skills in a private interview, evening wear, on-stage conversation, talent, and health and fitness categories.

Wash received a $60,000 scholarship and a brand-new Volvo and will represent South Carolina at the Miss America pageant later this year.

About Miss Clemson Davis Wash

According to the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization , each delegate must also have a social impact initiative they will advocate for during their year of service.

Wash is the founder of the Silent Victims Foundation .

The organization is dedicated to guiding and empowering youth who have experienced the incarceration of a parent.

According to a previous statement by Wash on the Silent Victims Foundation , her father was incarcerated. "Witnessing firsthand the silent struggles of children with incarcerated parents, I knew that their voices needed to be heard, their pain acknowledged, and their potential unlocked," she said.

Through mentorship programs, educational resources, and advocacy efforts, the Silent Victims Foundation strives to provide a pathway to healing for children affected by parental incarceration.

Miss South Carolina Organization

According to the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization , it is one of the largest providers of scholarships to young women in the state.

The organization aims to advance the creation, promotion, and support of community service and educational opportunities for young women in South Carolina.

Three programs within the organization are dedicated to providing a forum to express their opinions, talent, and intelligence: The Miss South Carolina Program, the Miss South Carolina Teen Program, and the Palmetto State Stars Program.

Candidates within the organization complete thousands of hours of community service and compete for over $200,000 in scholarships each year, which are made possible by local competitions and the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Foundation.

Miss South Carolina Teen

Mary Elle Marchant, River Bluff's Teen, was named Miss South Carolina Teen.

She won the preliminary competition in the Teen Evening Gown competition and the Teen Talent competition with her vocal performance of "I Hope I Get It" from "A Chorus Line."

As Miss South Carolina Teen, Marchant received a $12,500 savings bond and a spot in Miss America's Outstanding Teen competition.

Miss South Carolina Teen: Runner-ups

First Runner-Up: Miss Daniel Island Teen Tess Ferm

Second Runner-Up: Miss Columbia Teen Le'Daviah Terry

Third Runner-Up: Miss Greer High School Teen Madison Harbin

Fourth Runner-Up: Miss Greater Greer Teen LilyKate Barbare

Travis Rose covers Anderson County for the Independent Mail. Reach him via email at trose@gannett.com .

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Miss Clemson crowned Miss South Carolina 2024, prelim winner in talent, evening gown