Jill Dudley crowned Miss Teal and Bronze

The annual Miss Teal and Bronze Pageant, a qualifying event for the Miss South Carolina Pageant (Miss America Organization), took place on January 25, 2019 in Coastal Carolina University’s Wheel Wright Auditorium.

Jill Dudley, a sophomore studying English with a political science minor from Syracuse, NY, was crowned at the 2019 Miss Teal and Bronze Pageant.

Former Miss Teal and Bronze, Brooke Vu, has been competing in pageants since she was young. In her Sophomore year at Socastee High School, she competed in the Miss Socastee pageant, where she was introduced to the Miss America Organization.

As a pageant competitor and former Girl scout, Vu is drawn into using her pageant titles to make a difference in the community. She works throughout Horry and Georgetown country school districts to fight childhood hunger, by creating healthy snack bags for students to take home every weekend.

Vu was excited to see how Jill uses her very own platform to make a difference in our community and offered this advice to the new holder of the crown.

“Any chance you get to sleep, take advantage of it,” said Vu. “Enjoy every moment whether you’re on or off-stage crown or no crown, you’re building who you want Jill to be.”

Vu recently just captured the title of Miss Georgetown County and is excited to announce that she will be returning to the Miss South Carolina stage this year.

Dudley competed in four phases of competition which included a person interview with the judges, onstage question, talent, and evening gown. She says her favorite area of competition is talent where she performed “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman.

Dudley is very excited for her year as Miss Teal and Bronze and cannot wait to get to know and work with other on campus organizations. She is ready to not only serve her university, but also serve her community. Her platform, Luke’s Legacy, is in honor of her younger brother who has type one diabetes. Dudley’s platform is to bring education, awareness and to clear up common misconceptions about the autoimmune disease.

Dudley decided to compete at Miss Teal and Bronze because she wanted to try something new. She had never competed in the past and she really wanted to be able to display her talent. Dudley says that having the chance to represent Coastal Carolina University at The Miss South Carolina pageant was something she could not pass up.

“For those who have never competed in a pageant that are skeptical, try it,” said Dudley. “Just like joining a sorority, it was one of the best decisions of my life and college career. The experience is going to be difference for everyone, but it’s a great confidence builder and a great way to put your name out there.”

Donna Gilbert, a junior psychology major and sociology minor student at CCU, is the Assistant Director of Pageant and Showcases for CAB (Coastal Activities Board). Her freshman year she competed Alpha Phi Alpha’s Miss Black and Gold pageant and instantly fell in love with pageantry. She was hired last spring and is proud to be able to give students this amazing opportunity.

“I love being able to see the girls work so hard and create new interpersonal relationships with each and every one of them,” said Gilbert. “I love seeing how they all blossom and how everything comes together.”

Gilbert is thrilled to work with the reigning Miss Teal and Bronze as her local executive director for Miss South Carolina. She will help Dudley through every step of her journey to the state competition.

Gilbert seconded Dudley’s comments about doing pageants despite some people who have never participated in one.

“If you have never done a pageant, it doesn’t matter. Come out and compete next year,” said Gilbert. “You learn so much about yourself, you get the chance to meet new people on campus, and it is a wonderful confidence booster.”

“I am so excited to represent Coastal Carolina University at the state level and being a super big people person, I cannot wait to meet these women from all over the state of S.C.”, said Dudley.

This Miss South Carolina pageant will be held June 25 through June 29, 2019 in Columbia, S.C. The winner of the Miss South Carolina pageant will go onto compete for Miss America held in Atlantic City, NJ. You can follow Jill throughout her journey to Miss South Carolina on her “Miss Teal and Bronze” Facebook page.