Miss Darlington and Miss Darlington Teen set to compete for the state’s top crowns
Miss Darlington Sarah Floyd and Miss Darlington Teen Saviah Miller have waited for more than a year to get their shot at the Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen crowns. Both ladies were crowned last May at St. John’s Elementary School in Darlington and are ready to show the public just how hard they have worked over the last year.
Both girls have had a whirlwind of a year making over 50 appearances, received the keys to the City of Darlington and have been able to spread the message of their platforms to the entire Pee Dee area.
Miss Darlington Sarah Floyd, a Hartsville native and a recent honors graduate of Coker College with a degree in vocal performance, has worked diligently with her platform “Imagination of a Creation” promoting the arts in schools and the community. She has spoken to children in numerous elementary schools about the importance of being involved in the arts and even held a fundraiser concert with all monies raised going to the Darlington County School District Arts programs.
Floyd sang the national anthem at the Darlington High School vs. Marlboro County High School football game, which was aired live on ABC15’s Thursday Night Lights, and also at the Darlington High School Holiday Basketball Tournament. She also performed the National at Manheim Auction’s 75th Anniversary Sales Event and sang last year at the Florence Red Wolves July 4th baseball game at Sparrow Stadium on the campus of Francis Marion University. Another one of the highlights of her year was riding in the Bojangles Southern 500 parade and also riding in the Darlington Christmas parade and participated in the City of Darlington Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony just to name a few.
Floyd, a classically trained singer, will attend the University of South Carolina in the fall to pursue her Master’s Degree in Opera Theater. Her SC Princess this year is Virginia Anne Chapman of Hartsville.
During the week of Miss South Carolina, Floyd’s private interview with the judges will take place on the morning of June 25th, she will compete in on-stage question competition on June 26th, swimsuit and evening gown on June 27th and talent on June 28th and the finals of Miss South Carolina on July 30th which will air on ABC at 8 p.m.
Floyd will present a classical aria for her talent.
Miss Darlington Teen Saviah Miller, a Florence native, is a rising junior at Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School in Darlington, and ironically the first cousin of Floyd. She has worked this year to promote her platform “Read Across America” promoting literacy to children and adults. She has read to numerous classrooms in the Darlington County School District and was even invited to the Montessori School in Florence to read to several classrooms. She also performed at the Darlington Library last summer as part of their youth reading program. Her brother Drayton, who is her SC Prince, is the inspiration for her platform.
Miller has also partnered with the “Little Free Library Association” and has set up several “Little Free Libraries” in the Pee Dee area, including one at Merle Norman in Darlington.
The “Little Free Library” allows individuals to pick up a book and take it with them to read and then return it after they are done.
Miller has raised over 1,000 books this past year and have donated them to area schools and McLeod Children’s Hospital.
Miller’s reign has allowed her to make many appearances this year including performing at the Lamar Egg Scramble Jamboree Pageant, singing at the Darlington Market on the Square, participating at the Scare on the Square during Halloween, lending a helping hand with the Darlington Sheriff’s Department last summer when they assisted the less fortunate in receiving cooling devices. She also was able to attend the Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.
Miller’s Miss South Carolina Teen preliminary week schedule will begin on June 25th with her private interview, on Julne 26 she will compete in talent, on June 27th she will compete in physical fitness and June 29th she will compete in evening gown and on-stage question competition.
Miller will present a Broadway vocal for her talent.
All of the Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen preliminaries will be aired via the Miss South Carolina website at www.miss-sc.org beginnng at 7 p.m. each night. The Miss South Carolina Teen finals will also air via the web at 7 p.m. on June 29th.
The pageant will be held at the Township Auditorium in Columbia.