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Getting to be your 2023 Teen Miss Franklin-Southampton County Fair Queen has been such an honor. I am thankful for all of the wonderful people I got to meet over the course of the past year and all of the wonderful opportunities I was given. 

With my dad being on the fair board and him running a BBQ booth each year, I have been going to the fair for as long as I can remember and have looked up to many of the queens from over the years. I had started competing in the Miss Franklin-Southampton County Fair Pageant since all the way back in 2014. I have fallen short of winning for quite some time and was not going to return to the pageant in 2023 as I felt it was not meant to be. However, when applications came out last year, I told my mom maybe just one more try… and well THIS WAS MY TIME!! I will never forget the feeling after realizing I won; it was truly magical. I want everyone to remember anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

One of my favorite parts of this whole year was around Christmas time and getting to go shopping with my sister queens for a couple families in need and volunteering for the Trooper Hill Toy Ride. It was so special to be able to come together as a community and help the families who came into the Trooper Hill Toy Ride pick out toys, books, socks, etc. and to help make their kids’ holiday season magical. 

I want to say a huge “thank you” to my pageant director, Janet Joyner, who believed in me year after year. I would also like to thank the pageant committee for all the hours spent behind the scenes to make sure that our events were put together and ran smoothly. I would also like to say “thank you” to our Sheriff Josh Wyche for always being present in the community and spreading such positivity not only to the queens but the whole community. Finally, I would like to thank my parents. Thank you both for always letting me chase my dreams and helping me get to where I need to be in life. Without your guys’ support over the years I would have never been able to experience the joy I have felt over the past year. I love you both so much! 

To all of my sister queens, it has been so much fun over the past year. I will always cherish the memories we made over the past year, from our late nights making candied apples, going shopping together, going out to lunch or dinner, our photoshoots and more! 

With great sadness my year as your Teen Miss Franklin-Southampton County Fair Queen is coming to an end, and it’s time to pass my title to the next queen! Thank you, everyone, for your support all year long. I love you all. 

This is my final farewell as your 2023 Teen Miss Franklin-Southampton County Fair Queen,

Gabrielle Johnson