Jenna Walters crowned Miss UNCP 2010

By Wade Allen, Editor
Feb. 5, 2010

Photo by Wade Allen

Miss UNCP 2009 adjusts her crown for senior Mass Communications major Jenna Walters who was crowned on Feb. 4 at the 58th annual Miss UNCP Scholarship Pageant held in GPAC. More than 1,000 people watched the competition.

Video interview with Miss North Carolina

Video interview with Miss UNCP 2010

Senior Mass Communications major Jenna Walters was crowned Miss North Carolina on Feb. 4 at the 58th annual Miss UNCP Scholarship Pageant held in GPAC.

More than 1,000 people watched the competition and Walters being thrilled when her name was called as the winner.

"It's such an honor," Walters said. "I'm very, very excited to be an ambassador for this University. I cannot explain how excited I am."

Crowning moment. For Walters, the crowning moment begins a year full of appearances, events and service to the University. She will also be preparing for a trip to Raleigh in June to compete in the 2010 Miss North Carolina Pageant.

Walters has competed at Miss North Carolina once before, when she held the official preliminary title of Miss Fayetteville in 2007. She said that she is confident in her ability to represent UNCP well at the statewide competition this year.

"The first time [competing] is a rude awakening, so to speak," Walters said. "It's a lot of work. Now, I've got a chance to really collect myself and prepare for the best."

Songstress. Walters' talent is vocal, and she said that she is eager to begin her reign.

"I love to sing and I love to talk to people," Walters said. "I'm ready; I'm definitely ready."

This year, six UNCP students competed in the Miss UNCP Scholarship Pageant, co-emceed by Miss North Carolina 2009 Katherine Southard and Miss North Carolina 2000 Lorna Ricotta. Southard competed at the Miss America Pageant on Jan. 30 and was eager to share some of her experiences at the Las Vegas event.

"We were at dinner and my sister saw Clinton Kelly," Southard said. "She makes a big deal and wanted a picture."

Pageant on TV. The Miss America Pageant is televised live on TLC and is currently being emceed by actor Mario Lopez.

"He was very short," Southard said, recalling her memories of Lopez. "He was very nice."

Southard said that the Miss UNCP Pageant marked her first visit to UNCP, and she was impressed by the campus community.

"There's so much support and everyone's so welcoming and so much cheering," Southard said. "I'm not accustomed to this at home. I love it."

Chancellor Jenkins. Before the pageant, Southard dined with Chancellor Charles R. Jenkins and guests in the Chancellor's Dining Room. She offered some advice for Walters as she re-enters the realm of public life and state pageant competition.

"I want her to enjoy every bit of her preliminary title," Southard said. "She could be the next Miss North Carolina."