Butterfly Festival crowns pageant winners

May 10—HUDSON — On Saturday (May 7) the Little Miss and Teen Miss North Carolina preliminary pageant was held at the 2022 North Carolina Butterfly Festival in Hudson.

The pageant was spearheaded by Carolyn Marley, pageant owner and director. In the past, Marley has hosted a pageant at the Blackberry Festival in Lenoir.

Born and raised in Hudson, Marley has strong ties to the community. Her father, Ernest Beam, once served as the town's mayor. Her father-in-law, Vernon Marley, once owned Hudson Poultry Farm and Lenoir Mills.

"It was really, really special to come back and hold the First Butterfly pageant," said Marley, talking about hosting the pageant at the North Carolina Butterfly Festival in Hudson. "It was such a thrill and honor to be in my hometown, and to have had a successful pageant made it even more special."

The 2022 North Carolina Butterfly Festival Pageant winners are: Maggie Coffey, Miniature Majestic, Lenoir; Amelia Foster, Lincolnton, Overall Most Beautiful; Trinity Childers, Taylorsville, Grand Majestic; Rainbow Smith, Columbia, South Carolina, Baby Doll Miss; Ariel Propst, Statesville, Toddler Miss; Serenity Holifield, Connelly Springs, Miniature Miss; Bobbi Rene Wright, Charlotte, Tiny Miss; Princess Roslyn, Columbia, South Carolina, Little Miss; Nevaeh McClure, Midland, Junior Miss; and Savannah Caldwell, Catawba, Teen.

Marley hosts pageants throughout North Carolina. The Butterfly Festival Pageant drew people from out-of-town to visit Hudson's annual event.

"It was wonderful, we had people from different states and all of North Carolina," said Marley, talking about the contestants.

Three of Marley's Little Miss & Teen Miss North Carolina former queens have went on to claim the title of Miss North Carolina, including Dana Stephenson, Hailey Best, and most recently, Victoria Huggins.

"It is a stepping stone," said Marley, talking about several contestants competing at Miss North Carolina this June.

"The Miss America system is the largest scholarship for women in the world," said Marley.

Marley's love of pageantry developed through her daughter's participation in pageants. She became inspired to host pageants when her grandson won a pageant in Hickory at the old Catawba Valley Mall. Following her grandson's win, she had the opportunity to direct a pageant and she loved it.

For Marley, the relationships she forms through directing pageants has become an extended family.

"This is my life," said Marley, talking about directing pageants.

"We bond together," continued Marley, talking about a recent trip to Tennessee with title holders. "It's not just to win a crown then come back and crown a successor."

"It's a family unit, we bond together, support each other, and love other, and we pray together," continued Marley. "It's like family."

Pageantry is not simply about hosting a beauty contest. The Little Miss and Teen Miss North Carolina State Pageant is modeled after the Miss America program and therefore service to the community is part of the pageantry.

Marley said the Little Miss Patriotic Pageant is coming up in two weeks (May 22) and will be held at the Hawthorne Inn and Conference Center in Winston-Salem. Part of the mission of the pageant is to collect flags to put on graves of veterans.

Other contestants have collected can tabs to donate to the Ronald McDonald House. Ronald McDonald House receives money for every pound collected. One contestant collected over 91 pounds of tabs. Contestants have also participated in service projects like collecting blankets for the children's ward associated with the Ronald McDonald House, as well as hosting coat and food drives.

Last year, 12 contestants received the Gold Presidential Award for Community Service. The contestants have dedicated a combined 1,000 hours of community service.

Each contestant selects their own service project and all community service projects are carried out in the contestants hometown.

"It's labor of love," said Marley talking about coordinator and directing pageants.

The North Carolina Butterfly Festival Pageant had eight divisions winners, which included contestants between the ages of birth through 19 years old.

Three overall winners crowned including: Overall Most Beautiful, Miniature Majestic, birth to 6 years old, and Grand Majestic, ages 7 through 19. The Miniature Majestic and Grand Majestic titles are awarded to the contestant with the highest number of points in all areas of the competition.

"Our awards were beautiful, they had butterflies and the banners had custom monograms," said Marley, talking about the awards presented at the North Carolina Butterfly Festival Pageant in Hudson.

"I want the interest to be back in Caldwell County," said Marley, talking about being able to host the Little Miss and Teen Miss North Carolina State Pageant in Hudson.

"I would like to say a special thank you to Keith Smith, with the town of Hudson, who made it possible for the pageant to be part of the Butterfly Festival," said Marley.

Registration is still open for the Little Miss Patriotic Pageant coming up in Winston-Salem.

Those interested in participating in The Little Miss & Teen Miss North Carolina pageants can find out more by contacting Carolyn Marley by calling 828-295-3880, emailing carolynlitttlemissncdirector@gmail.com, or by visiting the littlemissnc.com website.