Meet our 2027 winners!
Miss Zebulon 2027- Halle Powell
Halle Powell, is a business major at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, is a member of the Carolina Style dance team, and the Carolina Tap Ensemble. Combining her passion for dance with her commitment to the eldercare community, Halle founded The Senior Shuffle Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit created to provide activity directors, senior centers, and caregivers with an engaging and upbeat resource that keeps seniors active through seated dance. Through partnerships, grant funding, more than 9,000 miles traveled, and over 300 hours of service, Halle has brought The Senior Shuffle Project to 100 senior centers across North Carolina. Through both virtual and in-person classes, she makes movement and connection accessible to seniors across all levels of care and economic backgrounds.
Atestament to her work, Halle was nominated and received the Governor’s Volunteer Award recognizing her dedication to keeping seniors moving.
Atestament to her work, Halle was nominated and received the Governor’s Volunteer Award recognizing her dedication to keeping seniors moving.
Miss Wendell 2027 – Hayden Pearson
Hayden Pearson, is a junior at North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management, where she is pursuing a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. A lifelong dancer and passionate advocate for children, Hayden directs The Red Balloon Project and is a three-time recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. She has also published her first children’s book and serves as Media Manager for The Pearl Collective. Hayden’s career goal is to own and operate a formalwear boutique where she can help young women find or design their dream dresses for proms, pageants, and life’s most memorable occasions. Ultimately, she hopes to combine her entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and heart for service to help others feel confident, celebrated, and seen.
Miss Zebulon’s Teen 2027 – Baylen Salyers
Baylen Clay Salyers, is a sixteen-year-old homeschooled high school junior, dual-enrolled at Johnston Community College through the College and Career Promise (CCP) program. A competitive dancer for the last ten years, Baylen trains in the studio and at home more than 20 hours per week to improve her strength, stamina, technique, and flexibility, and is excited to bring one of her favorite high energy tap routines to the stage. When she’s not dancing or teaching younger dancers, Baylen enjoys collecting and restoring American Girl dolls, spending time with her family and friends, visiting Disney World, and hanging out on the lake. The Lord gave Baylen a heart for children, which inspired her CSI “Bumblebee Backpacks: Bee-lieving in Brighter Beginnings” providing backpacks filled with both essential and comforting items to children entering foster care. Baylen relies on her relationship with God to help her maintain a balance between working hard to achieve personal goals, serving her community, and simply enjoying her teenage years.
Miss Wendell’s Teen 2027 – Ansleigh Thrash
Ansleigh Thrash, is a sophomore at Dixon
High School. She enjoys dance, playing
tennis for her high school, and is the founder
of S.W.A.T. (Safety With All Technology).
Through her community service initiative,
she empowers others by educating them
about online safety and digital citizenship.
Ansleigh has reached hundreds of people
through workshops and educational
programs and continues to use her initiative
to make a difference in her community.
Outside of pageantry and community
service, she enjoys reading, aviation, and
learning about atmospheric science.
