Miss Darlington and Miss Darlington Teen competing in Columbia pageant this week
Catherine Smith, Miss Darlington. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Katelyn Harrell, Miss Darlington Teen. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Even though it’s her first time competing on the Miss South Carolina stage, Miss Darlington Catherine Smith feels she will cherish this moment forever.
Smith, a student at Charleston School of Law, is accomplished and driven and she will take that with her as she competes for the state’s top crown from June 21-25 at the Township Auditorium in Columbia.
“This is my first year competing for the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization and with it being its 85th anniversary, I already feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude,” Smith said. “Having the opportunity to celebrate that 85th inaugural achievement is something I greatly look forward to.”
Smith has reigned over the city of Darlington for the past eight months and feels ready for the opportunity.
“This year I have been presented with more trials and tribulations than ever,” Smith said. “But by trusting in the process and having faith in God’s journey for me I have found peace in my mistakes and misfortunes knowing that this is what I need to endure in order to make me the servient leader I currently am and will always aim to be.”
Smith will present a classical voice piece for her talent presentation, but said her favorite part of the competition is interview.
“Having the opportunity to speak with the judges on my passions for combating the stigma of suicide and how I can best serve the great state of South Carolina is not only something that I take great pleasure in but the area of competition of which I believe I best excel in,” Smith said.
Smith’s platform is Suicide Prevention and Awareness and she has been able to speak to over 4,000 children and families and traveled 6,000 miles across the state for service projects, stood on Capitol Hill advocating for Mental Health and funding for all, and has also clerked for the 9th Circuit Court Public Defender’s Office.
Miss Darlington Teen Katelyn Harrell’s favorite part of the competition is also interview.
“I love sharing my passion for animals by telling everyone about Katelyn Kares, my social impact project,” Harrell said.
With this also being the first year Harrell has competed for the Miss South Carolina Teen crown, she says she’s ready for the job. She has also been a Palmetto Princess at the Miss South Carolina pageant.
“I’ve been working hard on my physical self but also my mental self,” Harrell said. “I have learned to ‘Seize the Day.’ Today is the day you need to live in and be 100 percent present but also planning for tomorrow.”
The Miss South Carolina Teen pageant is held in conjunction with the Miss South Carolina pageant.
Miss Darlington and Miss Darlington Teen Local Executive Director Alicia Gibson-Robinson is looking forward to an exciting state pageant week and bringing the pageants back for 2022-2023.
“It’s been a wonderful year and we look forward to great things from our queens,” Gibson-Robinson said.
For more information on viewing the pageant visit www.miss-sc.org and for ticket information go to thetownship.org.
