Sydney Perry, a UNCW senior, was crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2012 at the High Point Theatre and Exhibition Center in High Point, North Carolina Nov. 12. Miss Perry formerly held the title of Miss Vermont Teen USA, reigning in 2008, and was recently chosen as Miss Wilmington.

Perry will follow in the footsteps of other Wilmington Pageant Stars such as Miss NC USA 2010 Brittany York, Miss NC and Miss USA 2005, Chelsea Cooley-Altman, and Miss NC USA and Miss USA 2009, Kristen Dalton.

Perry told Pageant Interviews after her Miss Teen Vermont reign: “I had a lot of exciting and memorable experiences, but I think the one that was my favorite was actually going to Las Vegas to watch Miss USA 2008. I really liked meeting all of the other teens before we were put into a competitive environment. It gave us all a chance to relax a little and start to make friendships before we got to Teen USA. I also really enjoyed sitting in the front row watching the live telecast and after the show meeting Donald Trump.”

The 56 contestants were judged over a two-day competition on three equal categories: personal interview, swimsuit and evening gown. The contestants were not judged on a talent portion. Miss North Carolina USA is produced by RPM Productions and director Paula Miles.

The guest judges for the competition included many celebrities and entrepreneurs like Art Green from Walt Disney Pictures, Clarence Black from the first season of Survivor, Amy Paffrath, actress and former host of E News Now, Albert Soliz, associate director of Miss Texas USA Pageant and entrepreneur John Johnson.

Runners up for Miss North Carolina USA included Whitney Jones, Laura Puleo, Elizabeth Carty and Rachel Gainey.

Also crowned in High Point, N.C. was the sister titleholder, Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2012, Katherine Puryear from Thomasville. Kat is a senior at Trinity High School.

Miss Wilmington USA Sydney Perry will represent North Carolina at the Miss USA 2012 pageant next June in Las Vegas. Miss USA 2012 is a televised pageant on NBC, owned by Donald Trump and NBC Universal.