The week of Coastal Carolina University’s Homecoming events kicked off with the annual beauty pageant, Miss Teal and Bronze on Sunday, Oct. 9 in Wheelwright Auditorium.

The pageant was hosted by Coastal Activities Board (CAB) member Avery Shorts and the 2019 Miss Teal and Bronze winner, Brooke Spence. This event is an annual tradition for CCU, where girls compete to represent the University. The five contestants that competed were Dakeia Goodman, Nicole Herrera, Abigail Cunningham, Madison Purcell and Zhoe Richardson.

“This event gives girls an opportunity to be a part of something,” Trinity Mccorey, a CAB member, said.

The contestants were judged based on prior interviews with the judges, talent, professional wear, onstage questions and formal wear. Audience members cast their own votes for the “People’s Choice” in the lobby of Wheelwright during the show. Each contestant chose an organization for their funds from the People’s Choice vote to go to.

Out of the five contestants, Herrera was crowned as Miss Teal and Bronze 2023. She received $500 and a ticket to compete for Miss South Carolina.

“Being on stage is my happy place. I love it,” Herrera said. “So I’m just over the moon right now.”

Herrera represented the “Talk, Don’t Act: Encouraging the Use of Mental Health” organization to receive her proceeds. Besides winning the crown of Miss Teal and Bronze, Herrera won the award for “best talent” at the competition as well. She performed the song “Wizard and I” from the musical Wicked.

Cunningham received the People’s Choice award as the first runner up for the pageant. Similarly, Goodman was second runner-up, and she received the “Best Congeniality” and the “Best Evening Wear” awards.

“Even if you don’t care about winning, go compete like I did,” Cunningham said. “I just wanted to have fun.”

Any student who is interested in competing for next year’s Miss Teal and Bronze beauty pageant to represent CCU can sign up through Coastal Connections.