Kenzie Hansley, a native of Wilmington, was recently crowned Miss North Carolina USA 2024.
Raised on the beaches of Topsail Island, Hansley graduated from Topsail High School in 2017.
Hansley entered her first pageant at the age of 10, competing for the title of Jr. Miss Wilmington, which she won.
“It is a full circle moment being able to represent my community for the last time at Miss USA,” Hansley said.
Over her 15 years of pageantry, Hansley has held 12 titles. “Four of those being major state titles in the pageant world making me the first in the state to do so,” Hansley said. She was crowned Miss North Carolina’s Outstanding Teen 2015, Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2017, Miss North Carolina Collegiate America 2019, and Miss North Carolina USA 2024.
After experiencing the helplessness and fear of a sexual assault, Hansley is passionate about her platform “Women on Fire” where she equips women with the confidence and physical training needed to navigate and thrive in today’s society safely. She finds confidence in knowing she is creating a safer future for women. Providing both preventative and survivor classes for middle school-aged students and up.
“It was truly the most shocking and awestruck I have ever felt,” said Hansley after hearing her name called as the winner of Miss North Carolina USA. Hansley is familiar with being in the final two; he placed first runner up last year. “The last thing I was expecting was to hear my name and title being announced as the next Miss NC USA,” Hansley said. “It has been years of unconditional dedication, work, determination, and practice. My dreams finally came true and I’m going to Miss USA!”
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Hansley is a Cum Laude graduate of High Point University with an undergraduate education in Broadcast Journalism and Business. Hansley received her master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Mentorship is what Hansley hopes to focus on the most during her year. She aims to show others how impactful pageantry has been in her life, build up young women and expand her Self-Defense Series Women on Fire. She plans on being the example of showing resilience in fearlessly chasing your dreams.
Hansley is paving the way in her workplace, taking the role as chief marketing officer as the sole female employee within her company.
By winning the pageant, Hansley said, “It means that everything 10-year-old Kenzie dreamed of has come to fruition. Never in my 15 years of pageantry did I think I would make it to the Miss USA stage.”
A dream that seemed slightly unreachable, Hansley said she reached for it anyway by working hard and giving it everything she had.
Her goal is to give back to everyone who supported her along the way ― the community, her family and her friends.
“This win isn’t just for me. It is for every little boy or girl who has a dream that feels like it is light years away. I’m living proof that your circumstances don’t define you. My sexual assault, my losses, my no’s, my past achievements, everything in my life has built me for this moment. Your dreams are within reach despite how big they may seem,” Hansley said.
Hansley enjoys anything outside from hiking to wake surfing, spending time with her friend group in Charlotte, where she currently resides, exploring farmers markets, and walking trails with her dog.
Hansley will compete in the 73rd Miss USA Pageant airing live on The CW on Sunday, Aug. 4.
