Out and About

Thurmond is ready for her favorite event of the year

WRAL anchor and reporter Mikaya Thurmond will be hosting the WRAL Voters' Choice Awards next week for her fourth time. Thurmond said the gig is one of her favorites each year.

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Mikaya and Tinkerbell
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RALEIGH, N.C. — WRAL anchor and reporter Mikaya Thurmond will be hosting the WRAL Voters' Choice Awards next week for her fourth time. Thurmond said the gig is one of her favorites each year.
"I'm reading off the winners and I have a paper script that I mark and say, 'ooh, best pet grooming. OK, Tinkerbell needs a haircut. Best massage place? OK, I need a massage,'" Thurmond said on this week's WRAL Out and About Podcast. "All throughout the year after that, I don't just go to the winners, I go to the nominees."

In its sixth year, the WRAL audience nominated the best in local businesses, community, education, food and drink, home and finance, medical and professional and entertainment from Sept. 14 through Oct. 11. On Oct. 19, the top five finalists in each category were announced and voting ended Nov. 22.

Thurmond will be joined in hosting duties for the Jan. 14 virtual awards ceremony by her friend, WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell.

"Kat and I were neighbors...like walking distance for years and really, really close friends," Thurmond said.

The two even have the same breed of dog, Yorkie. Thurmond's dog, Tinkerbell, and Campbell's pup, Jazzy, are often featured on their social media posts.

"She's Tinkerbell's God-mom," Thurmond said, noting that seeing Jazzy made her want to get her own Yorkie. "(Kat) vetted everything and I got Tinkerbell and she taught me how to do all the puppy training."

You can see Thurmond and Campbell host the annual WRAL Voters’ Choice Awards event on Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m.
Finalists and anyone who wishes to watch the awards are encouraged to register now to attend the free virtual event.
Hear more from Mikaya, including her worst Christmas gift ever, on this week's Out and About Podcast

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