HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — The red carpet was rolled out in High Point for the Miss North Carolina contest.

Thirty young women competed on Saturday to prove why they should be the one to represent our state.

Karolyn Martin took home the top prize.

“Oh my gosh, I actually thought I was going to pass out,” Martin said about being crowned Miss North Carolina 2022. “I’m glad that the judges saw something in me and my abilities to represent our state.”

Karolyn has moved around the nation as the daughter of a military family and she’ll spend the next year traveling again, but this time across North Carolina as she prepares for the Miss America pageant next year. “I’ve lived everywhere, but this is really my home. Love this state, I just graduated from Appalachian State University’s honors college!”

Martin is from the Charlotte area and her future plans involve pursuing dual graduate degrees, allowing her work in business law to help empower women to reach their entrepreneurial goals.

Right now she works to inspire people of all ages with her social impact initiative #selfkareeattosuccess. “Teaching our community to eat in a way that fuels our minds and bodies to success, while taking the focus off of weight and appearance. I’ve had the opportunity to already speak to 2,000 North Carolina students, I’ve published a cookbook, and hosted two nationally attended wellness summits. Those are things I want to build upon this year,” Martin said.

This was Karolyn Marton’s second year competing in the Miss North Carolina pageant. She was second runner-up last year.