NC State master's student wins Miss North Carolina crown

Edmonds, 24, a master of accounting student at North Carolina State University, took home a $12,500 scholarship and will go on to compete in the Miss America 2014 competition in Atlantic City, N.J. in September.

She said she was shocked and excited to win the scholarship pageant.

"My first runner-up, Jessie Smith, kind of had to shake me. She said, 'Johna, you won.' and I kind of stepped back and was like, 'No. Really?' I just couldn't believe it," Edmonds said. "You never think it's actually going to happen, no matter how hard you try. It's so surreal."

Her platform is promoting literacy for children at the grassroots level. Edmonds, who lives in Lumberton, said she began working with the Battle of the Books program at her mother's school several years ago.

"Ever since then, these kids had such zeal and passion for reading, and I wanted every child to have that, despite their adversities, despite anything that they encountered," she said. "I wanted every child to have that spark."

As first runner up, Miss Capital City Jessie Smith was awarded a $3,500 scholarship.  

The pageant's final five included Edmonds and Smith, as well as second runner-up Mya Kayler, Miss Mount Holly; third runner-up, Tynia Brandon, Miss Queen City; and fourth runner-up Brieanna Hester, Miss Greater Carolina.