#51 Crowned & Candid: Carrie Everett, Miss North Carolina 2024

What does it truly mean to wear the crown for 365 days? Behind the polished Instagram posts and stage performances lies a journey filled with grit, growth, and occasional tears. In this revealing conversation, Miss North Carolina 2024, Carrie Everett, brings us into the heart of her unlikely path to the title and the profound lessons she discovered along the way.

As a child of Liberian immigrants who moved across the country to attend an HBCU, Keri's story defies conventional pageant narratives. With astonishing candor, she reveals how she won her state title on her first attempt with just $40 to register for her local competition and a $275 evening gown from Poshmark. "God does not call the qualified; He qualifies the called," she reflects, challenging the notion that financial resources determine pageant success.

The conversation takes us through the emotional rollercoaster of balancing full-time university studies with state responsibilities, navigating the political complexities of promoting diversity and inclusion in pageantry, and the heartbreaking experience of competing at Miss America while battling severe illness. Through it all, Carrie's message of self-grace emerges as her most powerful legacy.

Most revealing are the transformations that occurred beneath the crown – from learning that "being busy doesn't mean being productive" to discovering identity beyond achievement. As she prepares to pass on her title, Carrie offers wisdom that transcends pageantry: silence the external noise, resist the comparison trap of social media, and remember that if something is truly meant for you, it will fall into place regardless of your resources or circumstances. Her journey reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful crowning moments aren't the ones captured on stage, but the quiet victories of personal growth that follow.

Chapters

• 0:57 Introduction to Crown and Candid Series
• 2:57 Meeting Keri Everett: Background and Motivation
• 5:15 From Washington to North Carolina
• 9:49 Winning Against All Odds
• 15:43 Competing Without Financial Resources
• 22:16 Finding Balance and Self-Grace
• 28:23 The Business Side of Miss North Carolina
• 32:54 Navigating Diversity and Inclusion Work
• 38:33 Preparation and Challenges for Miss America
• 48:19 Post-Miss America: Growth and Transformation
• 56:01 Final Advice and Future Plans

Transcript

Raeanna Johnson: 0:29

Welcome back to Sash and Soul everyone. It is yet another lovely episode within the Crown and Candid series. This series is all about real conversations with current title holders who are getting ready to give up their title after almost an entire year of being in the job, and the whole purpose is to bring you an unfiltered look at what it truly means to wear the crown. So we're not just talking about what you see on Instagram or in TikTok or all the highlight reels that we're so used to, or what you saw in the Miss America stage. We are talking about the down and dirty, nitty gritty work of it all behind the scenes and the emotional roller coaster and the growth and everything that comes with being a title holder, as a state title holder, throughout an entire 365 days.

Raeanna Johnson: 1:14

So today I'm really thrilled to introduce our Miss North Carolina 2024, keri Everett, and we were just chatting a little bit before we hit record and she I'm so excited about this particular message. Her overall message is so simple Just give yourself grace is what she said. So we'll be talking all things self-care, self-love and grace for yourself in all aspects of pageantry and life today. And with that, welcome Keri. Thanks for joining me.

Carrie Everett: 1:48

Thank you so much for having me. Should I introduce myself now?

Raeanna Johnson: 1:52

Yes, please, please, tell us a little bit about yourself, okay, hello everyone.

Carrie Everett: 1:57

My name is Keri Everett. I am a junior now at North Carolina Central University studying vocal performance. I'm a child of Liberian immigrants, so that's a huge part of my story and why I do what I do. My CSI or my community service initiative was Seize the Opportunity. We Need, Equity to Build Communities, and that's all about making pageants more inclusive. Why I do what I do. My CSI or my community service initiative was seize the opportunity. We need, equity to build communities, and that's all about making pageants more inclusive and accessible to all young women from all backgrounds. So that's a little bit about me.

Raeanna Johnson: 2:23

Yeah, I love your CSI and I want to do an entire episode just about that, so stay tuned for that. What got you into pageants in the first place? So stay tuned for that. What got you into pageants in the first place?

Carrie Everett: 2:33

So it's very interesting.

Carrie Everett: 2:34

But my school counselor at my high school, her daughter was, you know, because we had the Little Sisters program, but her daughter was at the time called, you know, just Sparkles, because I competed at Miss Washington before I competed in North Carolina.

Carrie Everett: 2:51

But I was competing for the title of Miss Auburn because, excuse me, miss Auburn's outstanding team at the time, Because she wanted her daughter to have an older sister. I didn't really know what it entailed at the time, I just thought that I was just a mentor in this program. What I didn't understand was I was actually joining the Miss America organization, so her daughter was actually adopted from Ethiopia and she felt like her daughter was kind of out of place. Sometimes she didn't have like full representation. So she wanted her daughter to have that you know bond with somebody that kind of looked like her and represented her. And you know I was a great example for her. I got first runner up on my first try against 13 girls and I was encouraged to keep going. So I competed for Miss Auburn the next year and the rest is history.

Raeanna Johnson: 3:36

So how did you end up from Washington to North Carolina?

Carrie Everett: 3:41

So I graduated from high school in 2022. I was Miss Auburn in 2022 and I competed at Miss Washington that summer. But I knew that I wanted to go to school out of state because I specifically wanted to attend an HBCU and there are no HBCUs on the West Coast. So I made up my mind that I was going to move across the country. I just didn't know where and when yet. So I took a gap year off from school because you know, being a title holder and being in high school and doing all the things like I was senior class president, I was BSU president, I was all these things to everybody. So I wanted that gap year to really discover who I was and what I wanted to do. I took that time and I chose North Carolina Central University because the music department fit exactly what I was looking for, and I packed up my life and I moved to North Carolina to go to school and then I decided to compete because that was always within the plan.

Raeanna Johnson: 4:35

So you went through your first year of college in North Carolina and then competed for Miss North Carolina. This was your first time competing in North Carolina.

Carrie Everett: 4:44

Yes, it was.

Raeanna Johnson: 4:45

What was going through your head the night that you were crowned?

Carrie Everett: 4:49

So I'm going to talk about the before crowning, because I think that really impacted what I thought after crowning. But throughout the process a lot of people encouraged me to just aim to be top 10 or aim to place or do well or maybe win a talent award. But in my head I was like I came here to win. I came here with an understanding that my purpose is greater than just showing up. I have to show up and then take up space. And a lot of people really were like you know, girl, it's okay no matter what happens. And I was like, no, I'm not gonna be fine no matter what happens, and I always okay with losing. I think it's always a great experience, no matter what. But I knew what I came there to do. I felt like it was God's ordained time and purpose for me to win at that particular time. So I really gave it my all.

Carrie Everett: 5:44

And when we get to the top 10, I was like, oh my god, I made it to the top 10. You know, like that feeling of okay, I made it past the first, the first step, you know, as long as I make the top 10, I feel like I'm fine and competed in all the phases. And then we get to the top five and you know how sometimes they kind of call in order of a line and you know I can see I was like third I was third, yes, I was third, and they kind of called you know everybody, I was third, yes, I was third, and they kind of called you know everybody already. That was kind of in line. And then they get to the very last name and they say Johnson County, that's the county I represented. They said Carrie Everett.

Raeanna Johnson: 6:21

I was like, okay, I just made the top five.

Carrie Everett: 6:23

And I said to myself, god, whatever it is, I'm grateful because I already, you know, showed up and showed out. I proved myself. It's my first year competing, but that's not what I came here to do. So we get to the crowning moment where they're calling out names and when they get to the top two the first runner up she whispers to me and she says you're going to be a fantastic Miss North Carolina, and her name is Keely Keely Jones. And I was like girl, what are you talking about? It's two of us up here, right? But she whispered that to me and at that moment I felt a sort of peace and calm come over me because I was like, oh my God, I think I really just won this on my first try, against all odds.

Carrie Everett: 7:07

Like, if you understood the process of how I got there, at the time I went to North Carolina, I didn't have any money. It's actually, you know, I had $40 when I registered to compete for my local competition. I was a broke college student. My evening gown cost $275 from Poshmark. I barely had the money to pay my state contestant fee. My local director had to help me out. So there were all these things that were telling me that maybe this isn't for you, maybe this is meant for somebody who has the resources, that has the means to compete, that can be a representative, because they have it all. But at that moment it just none of it mattered, because it was the grace and the favor of God that truly granted me that opportunity. I, statistically maybe I don't know what statistics are but against all odds I was probably not supposed to win, but against all odds I did.

Raeanna Johnson: 8:00

I saw your post about your evening gown on National Dress Day, that you found it for $275 and you called your mom, who was in Liberia at 2 am and got the money to buy it right away. So can you. This is a beautiful conversation piece to have, because this is one of the biggest limiting beliefs for women competing in pageantry is that you need to have some wild amount of money or financial support from your family all of these things like ducks in a row in order to be successful. So tell me about how you kind of overcame some of those limiting beliefs if you ever had them that for some reason this couldn't happen for you because you didn't have those resources.

Carrie Everett: 8:47

So you know, as the saying goes, God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. As the saying goes, God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called. And if you really feel like you need those things and you're fighting with yourself and saying I need to have this, I need to have that, the Lord will provide for you. And I don't know what everybody's beliefs are, but if you want to save the universe or whatever, if it's meant to be, it will happen. It doesn't matter how much money you have, it doesn't matter what gown you wear. You could wear a couture, you could wear something that's off the rack but if something is meant for you, it will fall into place.

Carrie Everett: 9:19

Like when I first started competing, I don't think I've ever worn anything. Yeah, I don't think I've ever worn anything that cost over $1,000 prior to Miss America. So in my head it was like how will I save money and put my best foot forward? It was never about let me wear the most expensive gown or the most expensive shoes and that will be the way I win, Because it's not about that in reality. If you put your best foot forward, if you present yourself the way you're, the way you are fully and authentically, if they can see your heart and your heart for service, first and foremost. If you're able to compete and get on that stage, why would they deny you?

Raeanna Johnson: 9:57

because you don't have the funds or the resources for it, and I would hope this organization doesn't operate that way, as well as any pageant, because that compete in a highly competitive or in what the rest of us, like over here in the Midwest, see as a competitive pageant state in North Carolina, right, Like most of the Southern states seem like really competitive, and so I think that you know anyone that is competing in a really competitive pageant state. I think that's kind of the idea is that you need the couture gowns and you need, you know, the custom interview outfits and all of this stuff, and it's true, you just don't. One of the things you said that I want to talk more about those. You said you really felt like this was ordained for you this year, but you didn't say so. That gave me all the comfort and I felt really good about it going in.

Raeanna Johnson: 10:49

You said so I worked my butt off for it. So can you tell me that mentality? Because I think sometimes we sometimes fall into this like if it's meant to be, it'll happen, and we kind of like take a backseat a little bit rather than if it's meant to be, it'll happen and I'm going to put everything I have into it. So can you tell me a little bit more about your mentality in that?

Carrie Everett: 11:08

So part of my mentality was that with that is I was hungry. When I say I was hungry, I needed to win this North Carolina, not because it was going to make me the most amazing, outstanding person and give me all this attention or fix my life or fix all my problems. It was because I knew that that was what God was calling me to do at that particular moment. And sometimes we feel like, okay, this is something that was prophesied over me. Somebody said this was going to happen for me, or I'm good at this, so naturally it will fall into place. You have to get up off of your butt and go for something. You have to get up off of your butt and go for it.

Carrie Everett: 11:45

I was practicing my walk at 2am. I was singing every chance I had. I was very particular about every piece of wardrobe that I put on that stage. I was calculated in my marketing at work. Weekend I was listening, excuse me, and taking notes on every little thing. I watched every Miss America competition and every Miss North Carolina competition that I could, because I knew that I was not up against. You know something easy and even though we feel like, yeah, it's for me, it should happen, it'll fall into place.

Carrie Everett: 12:19

You do have to work for things to fall into place. As you're moving and you're feeling like things aren't falling apart, they're falling into place. I don't think I've ever just expected things to come to me. I guess it's just never been that way in my life. I've always had to work, you know, twice as hard in some cases. But I wanted to make sure that I was ready to go to Miss America. When I won Miss North Carolina and I knew that wouldn't show up if I just, you know, let it be. Even if I had one that night, that was not all I wanted. I wanted to show up and show up at Miss America and be ready to go. I wanted the judges to see not only is she ready to win this title and carry this crown here, she could possibly go to Miss America and do well there as you were working so hard out of this hunger, this thirst, this drive, how did you maintain your sense?

Carrie Everett: 13:16

of self and groundedness in that process. So I call it the pageant crazy, but I get a little bit obsessive when I really want something and it tends to take a toll on my mental health. In preparation for Miss Johnson County, miss North Carolina, miss America, I was in a headspace of I need this, I need this, I need this. But sometimes that gets a bit dangerous, especially when you start prioritizing that over your mental health or over your self-worth, or you get into that headspace of comparison, even questioning your capabilities and who you are as a person, based off of a crown.

Carrie Everett: 13:51

But the way I always ground myself is I am so grounded in fasting and prayer and I make sure that I take the time to operate in the headspace of am I putting this on a pedestal and idolizing this title for reasons that are outside of giving glory to God or being a representative, or being a good person and showing up for my community, grounding yourself in the reason why you're here rather than the goal. You know, like I want the crown, yes, but why? And when you know your why, you ask yourself a why constantly. Then I think you get back into the headspace of hey, I am not doing this because of a piece of metal and some gemstones. I'm not doing this for a sash with words that get the sash gets dirty anyway. You'll be fine. But grounding yourself always and for me it's fasting and prayer, for other people it might be meditation or working out or yoga, just finding whatever works for you to calm yourself down and to sit down, like sit yourself down.

Raeanna Johnson: 14:57

Yeah, I think focusing on that big picture, your purpose, your why, everything that you just said is like one of the best foundations, like the foundation of making sure that you are centering yourself and grounding, like making sure that you are focusing on that grace for yourself and why you're doing it, rather than getting all caught up in the weeds of all the things that just really don't matter, like you were saying, like the comparison or the self-doubt, like those things are just they're going to cause you to stay stuck and we got to keep moving forward towards that goal.

Carrie Everett: 15:29

Right Cause you can't look back. Forward is not backwards. So you keep looking back and saying, okay, but I had, I haven't done this this year, I haven't accomplished this goal this year. If I go to miss North Carolina or if I go to miss America and the judges see that I haven't done this, but then why don't you just go forward and do something else? You know like it's. It's just, it's a matter of always looking forward, always having hope, always finding strength in the why.

Raeanna Johnson: 15:56

Yeah, exactly, and sometimes moving forward is like taking a beat and sitting in that prayer, sitting in that meditation, like having grace for yourself, taking care of yourself, so that you can regroup to move forward.

Carrie Everett: 16:11

And I also feel like a lot of title holders get lost in the busy. We all feel the need to make ourselves busy this whole time and make sure everybody knows that we're doing something always. We're constantly doing something. You have to see me post that I'm here, that I'm there, that I'm there, that I'm there, but you're a human being at the end of the day. Like I said, give yourself the grace, you're not a machine and people seeing you being busy does not add or subtract to the fact that you're still a state-type older Yep.

Raeanna Johnson: 16:42

Exactly, exactly it is. You said it before. It's the way you show up and show out, and it's so true, all right. So what did you think this job was going to look like, versus like what it actually looked like? Was it any different than what you had imagined?

Carrie Everett: 17:00

I will say I came in with the expectation that I might be able to take a year off from school but because I found my eligibility in the fact that I am a North Carolina student, I have been doing this as a full-time student and for me that looks like, you know, in preparation for Miss America. The first six months was something Like I would wake up very early, work out, go to my classes, come from my classes, take a beat, do some work, maybe go to an appearance If I have an appearance that night work on some homework, have a little bit of time to myself, rinse and repeat every day. And it got to a place where I was like I wish I could have chosen one of the other, but it also made my journey so unique for people to see the possibility and being able to balance both and do both and do all the things. While I would advise against in the future for others maybe not a full schedule, even though it's required if you are an out-of-state student.

Carrie Everett: 18:04

But you know I didn't expect to be so drowned in school during the year and I will be honest about it, I feel like I was drowning at some point, like around November, and that's where, you know, everybody started getting like but, you know, getting to America, starting to feel like I can do this right now. But I didn't have that expectation going in. But, looking back, I made it through. There was no way to go around it, there was no way to go over it or under it. I just had to go through it and I'm glad that I did.

Raeanna Johnson: 18:41

Did you ever experience like this, Like what did I get myself into? Or any kind of like imposter syndrome, especially early on?

Carrie Everett: 18:51

I mean, especially being that it was my first year and I didn't really know anybody here and I, you know, feeling out of place comes syndrome a lot of the time and being like, oh my God, like did I deserve to win this? Was I the right choice for this? But then you think to yourself, if not me, then who? I won this for a reason and I put my everything into it and sometimes I go back and I read my things worked in my favor. So why should I not feel like I deserve this? Or why should I not, you know, carry this with pride and joy and know that?

Raeanna Johnson: 20:04

this is something that I deserved. Yeah, it's not like you took it from someone. The judges entrusted you with this position for the year and they saw your capability in you, and there's a part of that that you also have to trust.

Carrie Everett: 20:19

You know different judges different day. You know I might not have won, it was a different set of judges. But then I think to myself no, I would have won.

Raeanna Johnson: 20:29

I love that. Well, you had like, you had your sights on it and this, this was it for you. Yeah, I remember, like my, my last year going into Miss Wisconsin. It was my very last year of eligibility. I had already done the job for six months the craziest of circumstances at least what it felt like to me and I didn't have a backup plan that year. That was my first year of four times competing for Miss Wisconsin that I didn't have a backup plan. I didn't have a. If I don't win this, then I have something else to look forward to.

Carrie Everett: 21:03

My mom had asked me. She's like what are you going to do if you don't win? And I said I don't know. This is my only plan. My friend Jamie at Miss North Carolina. She was like what are you going to do when you get back? What are you going to do when you get home? I said I'm not going to become, I'm not going back to being a local title holder. She was like are you going to compete?

Raeanna Johnson: 21:14

again I said no, did you have moments of worrying that you would be disappointed?

Carrie Everett: 21:20

I you know, like the night before finals I was so worried I couldn't even sleep. But, um, I was like you know what will happen if I don't win this? I'm just gonna go home and be so hurt and broken and disappointed. But then I was like you know what will happen if I don't win this? I'm just gonna go home and be so hurt and broken and disappointed. But then I was like, wait a minute, I was a double prelim winner on my first try.

Carrie Everett: 21:56

Not just the prelims, I just I had a different aura about myself that I don't think I've ever competed with before. Like I just felt like it was right and there was a doubt, there was fear, but I kept seeing things that reassured me and I kept praying and I kept trusting and a lot of the time I think a lot of people where they struggle with you know the belief is the trust. Like you have to just trust and. But I was just so calm and relaxed and you know I felt doubtful the night before. But I woke up the next morning like girl, carry over North Carolina.

Raeanna Johnson: 22:30

Okay, so into the year we're crowned, we're diving in. What was the business side of it like for you?

Carrie Everett: 22:38

So it was interesting because the Miss North Carolina board is, you know, like I said, I competed in Washington but it shows up different every every state. Like the board in Washington is a lot smaller, it's a bit of a chill vibe, but North Carolina board it's a system and I'm working with all these completely new people and it's interesting because I came in knowing that there were, like you know, I knew about like three or four members of the board, but really it is a whole unit of people and they're a big state committee along with it. So working with this new unit of people has been so interesting and I'm blessed to know each and every one of them. They're truly my family at this point. But I, everybody has a different role, everybody has a different task and they have helped me so much in fulfilling my role and making sure that I stay on top of my stuff and on top of my task. A lot of my appearances are booked in advance thanks to, thanks to them.

Carrie Everett: 23:34

A lot of the things that we did throughout the year, the opportunities I had, were based off connections that they built and in terms of, like sponsorship, we have a sponsor team that reaches out to sponsors and builds an entire sponsorship package, and the sponsors fulfill their end, we fulfill ours and they make sure that they keep us on track and you know doing what we're supposed to do. Social media wise, we've had help with, like you know, the social media team and the people who are in charge of PR. We had a PR firm. We also had a legal counsel on the board, so it's a whole system that I was kind of like, oh, but here we are and we just had to make it work At some point. You know, it gets a little bit like, like I say, it's going to get daunting because there are so many people that you have to go through, but it's necessary and it makes the process a lot smoother on everybody's end if communication goes all the way.

Raeanna Johnson: 24:27

What were some of the biggest lessons that you learned from this experience of working with the Miss North Carolina board?

Carrie Everett: 24:35

experience of working with the Miss North Carolina board, interdependence is better than being dependent or independent. So I think I've always known that. But I really learned this year that it truly does take a team and I don't have to do it by myself, I don't have to completely rely on myself. You know, like, especially with pageants, I've always felt the need to be my own coach, be my own director, be my own this, be my own. That Even in preparation for Miss North Carolina I didn't have any coaches. I didn't have, you know, besides, interview, my board didn't really, you know, coach me that much in preparation because I was like I got it, I got it, I got it, I got it. But you know it's okay to ask for help, it's okay to rely on others, it's okay to lead on your team and the system of people. You have the system of people that you have because they're there for a reason they're there to help you. And you know you can't just say no, I'm good for everything.

Raeanna Johnson: 25:26

How did you navigate your appearances that were pre-booked for you through the organization and your CSI work that you wanted to do through?

Carrie Everett: 25:34

the organization and your CSI work that you wanted to do. So the appearances that are pre-booked are things that every Miss North Carolina does and I think when I was informed of that it kind of gave me a different sense of responsibility that, hey, I have to maintain this relationship because it's super important to not only the organization but the next girl. And you know, there were moments where I was like, oh, I wish I could have gone there to do this for my CSI or to help here or do this or that. But also like building those connections and maintaining those connections are so important and also contributed to my CSI.

Carrie Everett: 26:09

There were a lot of you know things that or things connections I built based off of appearances that were booked and I ended up being able to do things or connect with you know different people based off of that. So you know it got. It got a bit tricky, like I said, around like November, november, december, because that's right before Miss America. But you know, the appearances that they booked were so helpful and they helped me build my portfolio I don't want to say portfolio, but they helped me, you know, get in the community and get to know North Carolina more as well.

Raeanna Johnson: 26:44

That is amazing, and I've heard great things about the North Carolina organization, so that's really fun to hear from your perspective. Especially coming new and not really knowing anyone to begin with is like that's that's really powerful, like that's inspiring, that the organization is just so passionate about their girls and building up the organization. So kudos to you, miss North Carolina organization. I do want to ask a little bit about your CSI before we dive into like your journey to Miss America and what that experience was like, just because I would imagine, just with the political climate, it's been an interesting experience for you this year.

Carrie Everett: 27:26

So with diversity, equity, inclusion being such buzzwords kind of but misunderstood buzzwords, I will say it was interesting navigating that, especially moving from a very blue state to a swing state that's, you know, now leaning red and having to explain diversity and equity and inclusion to people. Often it's been interesting, but especially in context of pageantry, because when people hear that we need equity in the Miss America opportunity, they're like are you saying that Miss America isn't fair? And I'm not saying that Miss America isn't fair from a judging perspective. I'm saying that there are other contestants in this organization that sometimes do not have the resources to compete or to make it to the state level or to compete at the national level. Because, like you know, we want to be completely honest.

Carrie Everett: 28:15

Resources are everything, connections are everything. People from certain socioeconomic backgrounds are not going to be able to always afford the fees. They're not going to always be able to, you know, pay for the athletic wear or to buy all the gowns or the production dresses, et cetera, et cetera. It's going to be a little harder for some people. So we can't ignore that in this space, because it's almost dangerous to say we are a scholarship organization that's supposed to build up young women, but only certain young women have access to that.

Raeanna Johnson: 28:49

What was some of the kickback that you received and how did you handle it?

Carrie Everett: 28:55

I think it was just a lack of understanding of what I was trying to promote and how I was trying to go about it. Because, especially with my CSI having to do with recruitment and trying to get young women from other backgrounds involved, a lot of people were like why only you know, why are you only trying to recruit HBCU students? I was like I'm not only trying to recruit HBCU students, I'm just starting there, because they're often the ones that get left out. I'm not just starting with people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, I'm just, you know, I'm beginning there but I'm not going to finish there. I want everyone to be involved in this organization, but you know the last will be the first and the first will be the last. You know it's that big. I just want to see new faces. I want to see change in the organization. I want to see changes in our boards. Even if we can have that happen, you know, at every level.

Raeanna Johnson: 29:49

Yeah, more representation so that there's a better understanding of all different perspectives of the human experience. Yeah, for sure, All right. So tell me about November it's come up a couple of times what was November like for you?

Carrie Everett: 30:05

I'm telling you the month before, miss America feels like your head is being squeezed constantly and like I don't think I could process things the way I could process them in October or December, I don't know what it was about. November I just felt like I think I cried every day, every day. I don't even know why I was crying. I was just like this is so stressful between you know sometimes the wardrobe wasn't working, sometimes the interview prep wasn't working, sometimes the school wasn't working, and you know that's right, that's right when we're having finals at school. I was just like, oh my God, what is happening to me? And I would have to go on walks at night and just be like, yeah, I gotta breathe, I gotta breathe, I gotta breathe. November just felt like I was literally like this yeah and this, this arm was Miss America and this arm was school, and they were just like yeah, rock in a hard place.

Raeanna Johnson: 31:11

Yeah, how, how did you? How did you get through it? I would imagine grace is a focal point here. But, like, what was that process like for you? And and what would you say to somebody else going through a similar circumstance?

Carrie Everett: 31:27

Um, excuse me, I'm a little sick, but the way I got through it was constantly communicating with the people I love and, you know, confiding in my business manager, miss Adrienne Sulkey, just talking to people around you, because, even though you feel like people don't understand what you're going through, someone understands, and a lot of the former Miss North Carolinas, especially, were my people during that time because they were like you know, I get it Right before Miss America, miss North Carolina 2022 and 2023, carolyn and Taylor. They were like always there. I would ask a million questions and they would always respond. So I hope to be that Miss North Carolina to the next queen and the one after that. But, you know, confiding in people, speaking to people around you and recognizing that you are not alone makes a major difference, even though you feel like it. And plus, you have 50 other Well, yeah, 50, because Puerto Rico, you have 50 other contestants that are competing with you and they get what you're going through right now. So, just talking to everybody talking to everybody.

Raeanna Johnson: 32:37

Yeah, I think that's like a common misconception, that like when you're going through that, you look around at all these other women that are also competing for Miss America and they look like they have it together, and the thing is is you also look like you have it together from the outside, looking in, but you don't feel that way, and so it's kind of hard to remember that every single one of those girls has their own stuff going on at the same time. And I remember feeling like that. I remember feeling like if I let it show that I feel like I'm falling apart, then they're going to see right through me and see that I'm not prepared for this, that I'm not doing a good job, and that is the biggest lie I could have told myself.

Carrie Everett: 33:05

Right and you know, a lot of the girls were like I'm confused too. We're all confused, so putting solidarity in our confusion definitely eased my mind a little bit. But um, you know the lonely feeling as a title holder. It does take over everybody. You know, everybody has that moment where they're like nobody understands me. But you really do have so many people across the country, not even just state title holders, but you know former national title holders even.

Raeanna Johnson: 33:36

How did you well, first, where did you feel like that loneliness came from, Like when did it hit you and where did it come from?

Carrie Everett: 33:45

Well, I don't have family in North Carolina, so I was basically starting from scratch in building my community and something I think that a lot of people right now don't recognize because we're kind of in an era of individualism. But you need community, you need people, you need to have folks that you can rely on and speak to. But I really missed my parents, I missed my siblings. Like I felt like I was missing out on a lot and you know, and then being a title holder that didn't make a lot of friends my first year because I was, you know, I did make friends, but I was so like in the zone that I wasn't really friends with my entire class. And then at school, it was hard to make friends at school because I was always doing something outside of school, like I didn't go to any basketball games, I barely went to events. I only was able to go to our homecoming football games.

Carrie Everett: 34:39

So being busy all the time kind of took away from my social building that I really needed, especially as a college student and as a sophomore. There are times that I'm like, you know, maybe I should have. Just even though I was tired that day, I should have just forced myself to get up and go to that school event. But you know some people in the organization, like my local director from the Seanston County or my business manager, the person in charge of styling, from North Carolina. They were really people that I can lean on, and the few friends that I did have were my professors. You know they were a community that I was slowly building and getting used to and getting closer to, and I'm grateful that I had them, because, woo, it does get to a point where you're like, oh my God, I am tired of this.

Raeanna Johnson: 35:47

Yeah, did you ever feel any guilt about that? Because I mean you going back to your crowning night and all the preparation that you put into it, like earning this position, and then, when you have those moments of loneliness or exhaustion, did guilt ever creep in?

Carrie Everett: 36:05

I mean in moments where I was like, you know, maybe I should have just waited a year or waited until I graduated and slowed down. I should have just waited a year or waited until I graduated and slowed down. But then again I, like I said I knew that what happened for me this year could not be replicated. And, you know, I just felt like timing is so important, like I haven't seen my family since like May of 2023. Well, I went home for Thanksgiving for two days, but you know, when I say my family, mean like my all my friends, my community, I really have not seen anybody like that for a year.

Carrie Everett: 36:45

Actually, I said may 2022, excuse me, may 2024, yeah, but um you, I feel more so guilty about missing out on everybody's lives for this rather than like feeling guilty about winning, because you know there are moments where you're going to be like, oh, maybe this person would have done this better, missing out on everybody else's lives. And I feel a little self-centered at times. And why am I crying about, you know, my dress not fitting me when there's like worse things happening out there to other people, you know?

Raeanna Johnson: 37:23

How did your preparation for Miss America differ from your preparation for Miss North Carolina?

Carrie Everett: 37:28

So in preparation excuse me, in preparation for Miss North Carolina, like I said, I kind of did most of the prep on my own and that was a personal choice of mine. My board did offer but I knew that I was just going to have to do most of the work by myself. Like the talent preparation, I spoke to my vocal professor and we did some work on that and maybe like one or two times and that was about it. In terms of like walking practice, I've always just done my own walking practice and stuff like that, but I was really by myself for the most part in preparation. But for Miss America I was working with an entire team. You know we have walk interview panels but we also have like the board working with the board members.

Carrie Everett: 38:09

I kind of felt like sometimes that my opinions didn't really get through to them and they really really weren't understanding my vision. And I always tell people there's like a method to my madness. Like you might feel like, okay, she's a bit cuckoo in the preparation process, because I do get a bit like you know, you know who's practicing walking at like 1am or you know who's exercising at like 4am, but I get a bit. But you know, I just want people to understand. There is a method to my madness and I think sometimes there was just a lack of understanding, but that's also on my end, because I struggled to communicate with them, because I really didn't understand them sometimes.

Carrie Everett: 38:52

I don't know. I just it was different working by myself versus working with all these people. You know, and even with styling there were a lot of opinions and before you know, I just picked out my own wardrobe and I said to my board this is what I'm wearing, this is what I'm doing with my hair, here's this hair, here's this. But with Miss America it was like we went shopping as a group. We did all these things together, which I kind of appreciated and I liked and I thought it was fun. But there were some times where I was like I wish you guys weren't here so I could pick based off of what I think is right and know that it's what I really want.

Raeanna Johnson: 39:31

Yeah, because that's a lot of voices and a lot of opinions, it's hard to navigate what you really want for yourself. What were the most unexpected challenges that you faced at Miss America?

Carrie Everett: 39:46

So at Miss America. Oh, this haunts me to this day. I got so sick.

Raeanna Johnson: 39:51

All of you guys got sick.

Carrie Everett: 39:54

The worst. I don't know what happened. I don't know how it got in. I was so sick the day we had our photo shoot with Carlos Carlos Velez. That was the first day. It that was also the day we had our welcome ceremony or you know the signing.

Carrie Everett: 40:11

I woke up and I was like I don't know if I can, I don't feel right, like I don't know if I can stand up. I started to feel like nauseous and stuff like that. Then it got like way worse and then when I did my photo shoot, I walk out of the like I take my photos with Carlos Velez, walk out to go change my gown. I'm in the room. There's other contestants in there. I think it was. Was it Miss DC or Miss Lou? Somebody was in there, somebody was in there. One of the contestants was in there and I just start throwing up in the trash. And I was just so hurt by that. I did not want to get sick. I was like God, just don't let me get sick.

Carrie Everett: 41:00

And I got so sick and I was sick the whole week, came back, had the flu, um, I was sick the whole week and for that reason I think I also struggled to talk to people because I was like, and I wanted to make friends so bad, but I was just so like the whole time, right and shout out to my girls, shout out to my girls, love them, my girls, miss Ohio, miss, puerto Rico.

Carrie Everett: 41:23

Shout out to everybody, yeah, whole class. And I was like, oh my God, you guys aren't even seeing my real personality right now because I'm so sick Like I couldn't even. And I'm still surprised even that I won talent because I could barely speak. Yeah, I'm still surprised even that I won talent because I could barely speak. Yeah, that's wild, it was the worst. And like in the interview room, the interview was before that. So I'm glad because I probably would have fell over, but when we got to like the prelims, it felt like I got hit in the face every single day. I don't know where that sickness came from, but if I could change anything, it would be my health.

Raeanna Johnson: 42:01

It would be my health, yeah, and that's one of those things that's completely out of your control. So, like, what are you going to do?

Carrie Everett: 42:09

Yeah, I had no control over that and you know there was a lot going on. There was something to do every day, every hour. There was always something. So you know, go from photo shoot, then go to welcome ceremony, then go to luau. There isn't a moment to get healthy again, there is not a moment to replenish yourself. We don't get much sleep. So how was I going to regain my health? I tried to take all the supplements, tried all the medicine, drank all the hot chicken noodle soup and it just wasn't. It wasn't, it wasn't budging.

Raeanna Johnson: 42:41

Wow, okay, all this buildup, the stress during November, sick at Miss America. What was it like coming home in the aftermath of all that?

Carrie Everett: 42:51

I will not lie. I was so disappointed about not placing top 10, especially because I won talent and I thought I did so good. Maybe the judges didn't won talent and I thought I did so good. Maybe the judges didn't think so, but I thought I did so well in all the other prelims aside from talent. So I was a bit disappointed and I was really down on myself because, you know, I was like you know, maybe if I'd done this or done that or I'd been healthy, things would have been different. But also just take into consideration that if I was supposed to win, I would have won.

Carrie Everett: 43:22

And you know, abby is a fantastic Miss America and she is what America needs right now. So I'm clearly not what America needs right now. That's okay, I'm fine with that. So I was just, you know, I had to make peace with the fact that it's not meant for me and that's okay. And if there's something better, sure. If there isn't something better, sure I really I just finding peace and, like I said, giving myself grace with knowing, like you know, I can't change it. The judges didn't see a Miss America in me and that is a-okay, because I'm not Miss America like I'm. That's fine and, honestly, I don't know if I would have been able to, um, be Miss America, knowing that I wanted to, you know, stay in school after all that, like I wanted to finish my degree on time, I wanted to be, you know, I wanted to. I wanted to be, you know, I wanted to come back and be normal again. So I don't think it would have been any way.

Raeanna Johnson: 44:25

So it sounds kind of like and correct me if I'm wrong like it kind of sounds like you didn't have the same drive of becoming Miss America as you did Miss North Carolina.

Carrie Everett: 44:34

It's interesting because it's like I wanted to have the drive to become Miss America. Like I was like hungry-ish, yeah, but I wanted to be Miss America, but not as much as I needed to be Miss North Carolina. Like I didn't feel the same push, Like it was almost like a desperation to be Miss North Carolina. When it was for Miss America. I was just like this will be super cool, it would be life changing. It definitely broke my heart to lose, but you know, I was also like I don't even know if I could have been Miss America. That's a lot.

Raeanna Johnson: 45:09

How has this whole experience of being Miss North Carolina going to Miss America coming back like just deep, diving back into the job and going to school, how has this changed you emotionally, mentally and even spiritually?

Carrie Everett: 45:26

I genuinely feel like, even though I joke a lot I'm very hee-haw-haw, my personality is very jokey but I believe that I've become the most mature version of myself that I've ever been and I look at life completely different than I did prior to winning this title. And I've always said, like, even from the beginning, like in this order it is Carrie Everett, miss North Carolina, and not Miss North Carolina, carrie Everett. But I really feel like this year has cemented into me that I am more than a crown and I am more than a title, even though I have it and I represent it. But the person behind the crown in the sash is way more important and I have to take care of myself first. And you know, prior to winning, I was like I'm prepared to do anything and everything. When I get into this role, I'm going to say yes to everything, no matter what. Then I got in the role and I was like you know, I actually think it would be healthier for me to sometimes say no. I think it would be healthier for me to sometimes rest and to sit down.

Carrie Everett: 46:26

Being busy doesn't mean being productive. So prior to winning, carrie Everett was like I always have to be busy. I always have to be doing something. I, you know I always have to be validated by people outside who are saying you are doing enough. And you are, and you will make it.

Carrie Everett: 46:44

But now I'm just like you know, I'm good. I'm good with whatever, and I will continue to work hard in every aspect of my life and I'll continue to represent everything I believe and stand for what I believe and advocate, for all the things that are close to my heart. But I'm not going to, you know, continue to pour from an empty cup or force myself into roles and positions that aren't for me, in the name of success. You know, and I'm only 21, so I still have a lot of growing to do. I still have a lot of life to do and things to learn, but truly, I feel like after this year, I cannot say that I'm the same person that I was. It's that last June, like 11 months ago, I don't feel like. I don't feel like the same person, but I also don't even look like the same person.

Raeanna Johnson: 47:36

So it's just it's wild how much change happens in a year when you, when there's so much that happens to you, it forces that much change. Just so crazy.

Carrie Everett: 47:51

And I, I I don't think I would have thought that I'd become more mature from it. You know I thought, hey, maybe I'll just, you know, represent the title and be done with my year. But I feel like I've been forced to grow up in a way. You know I'm more timely now. That's something that you know. It's funny, but I'm more timely, I'm more organized, I am more considerate of other people, I am more community oriented, I would like to think I'm more professional, more respectful. I have different goals as well and I think I've become closer to God in this journey which is, you know, interesting. No-transcript.

Raeanna Johnson: 48:54

Do you feel like?

Carrie Everett: 48:55

your definition of success has changed at all through this experience I think I've always had the same definition of success in just setting a goal, or setting goals and meeting at least one of them. You know people always ask in interviews like what's your definition of success?

Carrie Everett: 49:09

I'm just always like you know I set a goal and I meet a goal, but really I don't think that's changed. You know, and for me, success has always been impacting people and being an advocate for people, having a heart for people and letting people know that I'm there for them, and I don't think that that goal has changed. And even if it was just one person that was impacted by me being Miss North Carolina this year, I think I have had a successful year.

Raeanna Johnson: 49:41

So we are reaching the end of your year and I want to know like how are you going to approach life as a former Miss North Carolina?

Carrie Everett: 49:50

You know, a lot of people keep asking me what are your next steps? What are your next steps? I am going to continue to pour life into all the young women that are competing in the future, or those who represent this title, like the next Miss North Carolina. Whoever you may be, you're in for a wild ride, but I'm going to help you along the way as much as I can and I'm going to just keep pouring into the organization and getting back when I get enough money. I'll give this, I'll give the scholarship to McNeil Chestnut, I promise but I'm just going to keep pouring.

Raeanna Johnson: 50:24

He will hold you to that.

Carrie Everett: 50:26

Yeah, he will absolutely hold you to that yes, I will give the money when I, when I have it, I promise I'm just going to keep pouring into this organization and continuing my advocacy. I am, you know, hoping to travel and to go to West Africa this year and years after that and maybe introduce, you know, pageants to people in this format and possibly impact young women's lives. So, you know, making it equitable to the world and showing people that they do have the chance to make it in any, you know, any space or any system or whatever they want to achieve. But you know, and I'm 21, who says I won't compete again? We'll see.

Raeanna Johnson: 51:09

I know I was kind of thinking about that as I was, as I was scoping out all the things that you'd been doing. So that's exciting to hear. We'll have to stay tuned for that. Maybe, maybe, maybe, Maybe. What advice would you give to the next Miss North Carolina?

Carrie Everett: 51:23

I'm going to say to the next Miss North Carolina be encouraged. It's just always going to be. Be encouraged, because there are going to be days that it's hard. There are going to be days that it's easy too, but through it all, just be encouraged. Take heart, be strong and know that you have people that are here for you, even if you don't feel like it sometimes. You know it's going to be times where you're like but we're actually there and don't feel the need to impress everyone. You know, don't listen to all the voices. Silence the noise in your mind and on the outside.

Raeanna Johnson: 52:04

Absolutely All right. If she or anyone that's listening ever doubt themselves, what would you want them to hear?

Carrie Everett: 52:13

from you. If God be for you, who can be against you?

Raeanna Johnson: 52:17

period. Cool, all right, let me give you the last word here if there's anything else that is on your heart that you want to make sure that you express today to this really amazing community of listeners, many of whom are preparing for their upcoming state competition, even like going into an early local season. They may be in a completely different pageant system and considering Miss America. What's on your heart?

Carrie Everett: 52:45

I feel like this is important to say to everybody. But take time and get off your phone, like get off your phone or get off the internet. Stop looking at everything. You don't always have to take everything in from what you're seeing. Like when we get into pageant mode during pageant week, I turn my phone off and I don't text anybody back. I don't respond to any messages. I don't scroll, I don't go to any like anonymous pages or forums. I don't look at any pageant content because your focus should be on Ken. So not just during pageant season, but just in your regular life.

Carrie Everett: 53:25

I think everybody is kind of getting in the headspace of you know, I got to be on my phone all the time. I always have to scroll and see what's next. I always have to refresh and know what's next. I got to know what's happening all the time. Put your phone down, please, like. Put your phone down and go read a book. Go read a book, go read, listen to people around you and go learn. Listen to the pageant elders. I know it's hard. Sometimes they got different opinions. Go talk to somebody.

Raeanna Johnson: 53:54

I consider myself a pageant elder at this point.

Carrie Everett: 53:56

No girl, you are not a pageant elder, You're like a pageant auntie.

Raeanna Johnson: 54:00

I turned 35 this week. I feel like I am officially a pageant elder.

Carrie Everett: 54:04

I don't know about Happy birthday, by the way. I don't know about elders. An elder, you're a pageant auntie, you know? Okay, I'll take that, yeah, a pageant auntie. But I just need to, like, put the phones down and just relax. The pageant world is just so like digital now and everybody feels like they got to be doing whatever else is doing and taking it all in the comparison does come from social media. So put your phone down that is just good.

Raeanna Johnson: 54:32

Good lessons to live by awesome. All right, carrie, thank you so much for joining me today and just for pouring your heart and pouring life into this episode. I'm going to use your verbiage that you said because I loved brings, and that's that's. The power of this is that every single one of you and you are my seventh interview of the 2025 Miss America class Every single one of you is beautifully unique in your own way, and you all bring life lessons learned, perspective, way, and you all bring life lessons learned, perspective, love and passion to this title, to your job, to this podcast, like to the conversations that you're having. It's just like a really, really cool thing. Every single time I've sat down with one of you, I'm just like I don't know what to expect, but then by the end of it, I was like, ah, just so good, so good, and I want everyone to listen. So, thank you.

Carrie Everett: 55:42

You're welcome and thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.

Raeanna Johnson: 55:49

Yeah, glad to have you. Thank you so much. Good luck with the rest of your year, good luck with your endeavors after this. I'm excited to watch, to see what you get yourself into next and if I ever see you back on a stage going for another title. All right, everyone, thanks for tuning in. We'll be back again very soon with another episode of Sash and Soul in our Crowned and Candid series. I will talk with you then. Until then, stay well, give yourself grace, bye.