PEMBROKE — Jocelyn Hunt, the reigning Miss University of North Carolina at Pembroke and a former Miss Lumbee, will be among 36 women competing for the title of Miss North Carolina during tonight’s pageant, which begins at 8.
Hunt, who is the 60th person to wear the crown of Miss UNCP, already has participated in the evening gown, talent and swimsuit preliminary portion of the Miss North Carolina pageant. Preliminary competitions were held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
“She’s done well in all three categories,” said Teresa Bryant, the business manager for Miss UNCP.
For the talent portion, Hunt, a senior at UNCP studying public relations, will be singing “At Last,” by Etta James.
“We won’t know if she has made it to the top 10 until (tonight),” Bryant said. “But her stage presence has been great.”
In honor of her grandfather, who died of a stroke, Hunt chose to represent the platform Act F.A.S.T. Stroke Prevention, a program that focuses on prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and support for people who have had a stroke.
If she were to win, Hunt would become the third Miss Lumbee to hold the title.
Rebekah Revels Lowry, Miss Lumbee in 1996 and Miss UNCP in 1998, won the title of Miss North Carolina in 2002, and Lorna McNeil, Miss Lumbee in 1994, won the state crown in 2000. Francesca Adler, Miss UNCP in 1981, won the Miss North Carolina title in 1984.
More recently, Jamee Hunt, a former Miss UNCP, was the first runner-up in the Miss North Carolina pageant in 2008.
Also competing in this year’s competition are Katy Locklear, the current Miss Metrolina and 2008 Miss UNCP, and Johna Edmonds, the current Miss Garner and a Lumberton native.
The reigning Miss North Carolina, Hailey Best, of Goldsboro, will be relinquishing her title tonight, the 75th year of the competition.















