chel and avery
The party was held at the Fort Mill Golf Club at 101 Country Club Drive, Fort Mill, SC between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m. Some of the features included a display of the wardrobe both girls will be wearing for their national competition, a photo display of appearances they have done over the past 4 months since their crowning and a table collecting money for CHADD which is their national affiliate organization.
Special guests included family and friends, Robert Christopher Photography who took photos of the event, Victor Sanders who is the girl's personal trainer, Jaime Converse Estrada who is the owner of Reign Fine Apparel and a sponsor for Carolina International Pageants and Patti Mercer, former Mrs. SC International and pageant coach.
Miss International is a pageant system that promotes high moral character, beauty, poise and volunteerism. The pageant scoring consists of an interview with a panel of 5 judges, modeling a "fun" fashion on stage, evening gown and fitness wear. The top 10 contestants will be asked a question on stage reflecting their commitment to their platform. Interestingly, both queens for South Carolina have chosen to promote ADHD awareness as both girls suffer from the learning barrier.
Chelsea Rae Gregory is a senior at Gardner-Webb University majoring in Communications and Public Relations with a minor in Spanish. She is from Tega Cay, SC and is a model and spokes person for Carolina Talent and the Patrick Talent Agency. Chelsea has done speaking engagements for the Lake Wylie Master Mind Group, the Mental Health Association of Central Carolina's Girl's Voice Conference and will be assisting The Sandbox Organization in hosting a "prom" for the Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte. She has also organized a gown round up to collect donated gowns for the prom and has a commitment of over 100 gowns thus far. She also helped with Charlotte Fashion Week's Fashion Democracy Model Competition as a judge, attended the Southern Paradise Ball, appeared at the Supermodels Unlimited Southern Extravaganza, appeared in the Tega Cay Fourth of July Parade and was a guest at the Miss Motor Speedway Pageant in Lexington, KY.
Avery Close is a senior at Nation's Ford High School and was crowned Miss Teen Strawberry Festival 2010 in Fort Mill. Avery is from Fort Mill, SC and is the daughter of William and Debby Close. She has been a contributor for the Relay for Life Organization and made appearances as the Teen Strawberry Queen in and around Fort Mill, SC as well as helped to raise money for CHADD and make appearanceson their behalf.
Both girls have visited the Palmetto Children's Hospital, raised money for CHADD with a local car wash, appeared at the Charlotte Bobcats Game for Nascar Week, threw out the first pitch at the Charlotte Knights Baseball Game, were guest hostesses at the What A Girl Wants Event in Hickory, appeared at the Baxter Village Easter Egg Hunt, and hosted the send off party to also benefit CHADD.
The girls will return from Chicago on July 31st and will continue to speak out for ADHD Awareness at the National CHADD Conference in Orlando, Florida on November 12, 2011. They have been asked to be CHADD National Affiliates and will speak on their own personal experiences with the disorder.
You can find out more about ADHD Awareness on Chelsea Rae Gregory's website, www.misssouthcarolinainternational.com or go to www.chadd.org for more information.
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Mentors-Matter is a non profit founded by Chelsea Rae Gregory, Miss SC International. The program offers workshops, support groups and a website resource that helps students with learning disabilities get into college and be successful in life.
Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/
