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Our 43RD Year • Issue No. 26 • July 2, 2026
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KM’s Sophia Kellstrom had a great year as Miss North Carolina 2025 By Alan Hodge
Miss America Organization as so much more than a pageant,” When Sophia Kellstrom of she said. “It’s a platform for serKings Mountain was crowned vice, scholarship, and personal Miss North Carolina on June growth. I wanted to use my voice 28, 2025, she began a year long to advocate for causes close to journey of service and celebra- my heart, specifically fighting tion that formed memories she food insecurity, while also growing into the woman and leader I will cherish for years to come. Kellstrom broke new ground knew I could become.” Kellstrom describes herself with her title. She is the 87th Miss North Carolina and the first as “a lifelong changemaker”. young lady from Kings Mountain She’s the founder of Pennies for to earn that prestigious title. She Heaven, a nonprofit organization is one of only three Cleveland dedicated to combating food inCounty women to be named security. For over 20 years, she Miss North Carolina and go on to has led initiatives on the local, compete for Miss America. The state, national, and international others were Patsy Osborne in levels, proving that even small 1948, and Elizabeth Williams in acts of kindness can create a 1982. Kellstrom graduated from lasting impact. “Through my community serKM High in 2017 and was Miss Gastonia in 2018. She is also a vice initiative, “Make A Change,” and my nonprofit, Pennies for graduate of UNC-Charlotte. Kellstrom explained what Heaven, I’ve been able to shine a prompted her to run for the Miss light on food insecurity and create tangible change through BlessNorth Carolina title. “I decided to run for Miss ing Boxes, school visits, and North Carolina because I saw the community outreach,” she said. “Knowing the title gave me the opportunity to make an impact far beyond myself has been the most rewarding part of being Miss North Carolina.” During her year of service, which drew to a close on June 27, Kellstrom became the first Miss North Carolina in the organization’s history to visit all 100 counties. On those journeys she connected with communities across the state and advanced Kellstrom at a food pantry. She champions her mission of helping put food the fight against food insecurity.
Sophia Kellstrom reacts as she’s named the 87th Miss North Carolina. (Photos provided)
Kellstrom at the NC Rhododendron Festival with Rhododendron Queens Kaylyn and Kimber. on the tables of families in need. “Over the course of my year, I attended hundreds of appearances, well over 300 events, and school visits combined,” she said. “From festivals and parades to legislative advocacy and community outreach, every
event was special Brave, courageous, and bold, Kellstrom in its own way. It’s suits up for a parachute jump with the US hard to choose, but Army Golden Knights at Fort Bragg. some of the most Race, and of course the NC Azafun times were skydiving with lea Festival! That journey gave the United States Army Golden Knights, singing the national an- me the chance to meet people See SOPHIA, Page 2 them at the Charlotte NASCAR
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