Over the weekend, the Miss Alabama pageant was held in Birmingham at Samford University, and it was a local who walked away with the crown.
In a competition of 13 semifinalists and 42 total contestants, Emma Terry — previously known as Miss Hoover — was named Miss Alabama and will represent the Yellowhammer State at the Miss America competition.
“I am on top of the world.” Terry said. “I can’t believe it. I have had this dream since I was 14 years old, and it’s surreal. I’m so honored, so blessed. I just knew that it was going to be in the Lord’s hands, that this was up to God’s plan, and I put everything into this, everything I had.”
Terry posted on social media before the event and said how much of an honor it was to even be included on the stage:
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Last year, Auburn dance team member Abbie Stockard won the crown and would go on to win Miss America as well, and she assisted in the ceremony to put the crown on the new Miss Alabama.
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Terry actually finished runner-up to Stockard last year as well as a second place finish two years ago, making the victory all the more sweet.
The Miss America competition will be held in Orlando this September where people from around the state will be cheering Terry on to bring home Alabama’s second straight crown.