Six-time Miss Virginia contestant and 2023 Miss Virginia runner-up, Carlehr Swanson, persevered and was crowned Miss Virginia 2024 at the Berglund Performing Arts Theatre Saturday night.
She was awarded $20,000 and the opportunity to compete in Miss America 2025. Swanson has been part of the Miss Virginia Opportunity for over 10 years and was crowned Miss Blue Ridge in April.
“I am just so proud that I stuck with it,” Swanson said.
Newly-crowned Miss Virginia Carlehr Swanson is presented a bouquet of roses by Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea during Saturday evening’s pageant at the Berglund Center.
She says her goal throughout the next year is to get more high school and college students involved in what Miss Virginia offers. The organization has greatly changed her, and she hopes it can do the same for others, she said.
“Thinking back to when I started, I was shy, scared to speak out, and through the Miss Virginia Opportunity, I really found my voice,” Swanson said in an interview Tuesday.
People are also reading…
Newly-crowned Miss Virginia Carlehr Swanson is shown on stage at the conclusion of Saturday evenings competition.
Swanson’s community service initiative is “Bridging the Divide: Music is Unity.” With this organization, she brings performances to those who are unable to experience them otherwise.
For the talent portion of the competition, she performed an Aretha Franklin piano and vocal performance.
Miss Blue Ridge Carlehr Swanson of Richmond sings and plays an Aretha Franklin song as her talent during Saturday evening’s annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center. She is a doctoral student at the University of Virginia and went on to be crowned Miss Virginia.
Swanson is currently a doctoral student at the University of Virginia in Critical and Comparative Studies in Music. She previously has attended the University of Miami and George Mason University in Jazz Vocal Performance and Jazz Studies.
The 2024 Miss Virginia runner-up was Miss Loudoun County Breana Turner. She received $6,000 and two additional awards totaling $1,500.
The second and third runners-up were Miss Arlington Emily Kinsey and Miss Lynchburg Susanna Shedd. The fourth runner-up was Miss Northern Virginia Madison Whitbeck, who was the first runner-up for 2023 Miss Virginia’s Teen.
Miss Hampton-Newport News’ Teen Cassidy Lee was crowned 2024 Miss Virginia’s Teen and received $5,000. This is her third year competing at Miss Virginia.
Cassidy Lee (right) reacts to hearing she won the Miss Virginia Teen competition Saturday night.
Lee’s involvement with Operation Smile inspired her to join the Miss Virginia Opportunity to further spread the nonprofit’s cause. Since then, she says Miss Virginia has helped her find herself and she hopes to encourage children to find their passion and follow their purpose.
“I’m able to be a role model for girls everywhere. There is such a need for positive female role models in our society,” Lee said in an interview Tuesday. “The Miss America Opportunity is such an empowerment program that gives titleholders the unique opportunity to do just that.”
Lee recently graduated from Warhill High School in Williamsburg and will be attending the University of Alabama this upcoming fall.
The 2024 Miss Virginia’s Teen runner-up was Miss Virginia Beach’s Teen Mary Ashton VanFossen. The other three runners-up include Miss Coastal Virginia’s Teen Corrine Church, Miss Chesapeake’s Teen Caden Spruill-Davis and Miss Roanoke Valley’s Teen Lexie Hovey.
Swanson and Lee will compete in Miss America and Miss America’s Teen in January 2025 in Orlando, Florida.
PHOTOS: 2024 Miss Virginia pageant
Newly-crowned Miss Virginia Carlehr Swanson is shown on stage at the conclusion of Saturday evenings competition.
Newly-crowned Miss Virginia Carlehr Swanson is presented a bouquet of roses by Roanoke Mayor Sherman Lea during Saturday evening’s pageant at the Berglund Center.
Miss Blue Ridge Carlehr Swanson of Richmond sings and plays an Aretha Franklin song as her talent during Saturday evening’s annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center. She is a doctoral student at the University of Virginia and went on to be crowned Miss Virginia.
Contestants in the 2024 Miss Virginia pageant crowd around newly-crowned Carlehr Swanson of Richmond Saturday night.
Twenty-five women participated in the annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center Saturday night.
Cassidy Lee (right) reacts to hearing she won the Miss Virginia Teen competition Saturday night.
Miss American and Miss Virginia 1979 Kylene Barker (right) is introduced by competition host Tiffany Haas during Saturday evening’s annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center.
Miss Lynchburg Susanna Shedd performs during Saturday evening’s annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center.
Miss Hampton-Newport News Rosie Hartlwell performs a tap dance routine during Saturday evening’s annual Miss Virginia pageant at the Berglund Center.
