Brittany York Biography

Brittany Leigh York (born April 16, 1989) is an American beauty queen who is best known for winning the title of Miss North Carolina USA 2011 and competing in the nationally televised Miss USA 2011 beauty pageant.

Early life

York was born and raised in Colonial Heights, Virginia to Richard York and Marcie York (Quillen), and moved to the coastal town of Wilmington, North Carolina when she was a teenager. York has three brothers and credits that to the reason she, "was such a big tomboy growing up". "I was very athletic and I always wanted to do boyish things... I liked playing in the mud", York says about her childhood. York played soccer and ran track at Colonial Heights Middle School and Eugene Ashley High School. York graduated from Eugene Ashley High School in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Pageants

York won the title of Miss North Carolina USA 2011 on November 6, 2010. According to York, "This was my first pageant and I had so many people say you don't know what you're doing, you're not going to make top fifteen and it just made me want to work that much harder to show them that I could, to show myself that I could." After her win, York said, "I can't even go to the grocery store without people stopping me, asking to take pictures with me".

Many pageant spectators felt that York was an unlikely candidate for the crown due to her lack of experience. Pageant veteran Erin Hendricks, who was Miss North Carolina Teen USA 2003, was the favorite but ended up placing first runner up.

Miss North Carolina USA

On December 28, 2010, York appeared in a video interview on The Pageant Guy, a website devoted to providing pageant tips and interviews with former and current titleholders. York then traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, to attend a StandOut Productions Retreat hosted by former Miss USA Chelsea Cooley and A.T. Dunn. On February 12, 2011, York appeared in her first television interview on The Debra Kennedy Show, where she discussed her new responsibility as a role model, what it took to prepare for the pageant, and her future goals. During the show she revealed she was working with fashion designer on her evening gown for the Miss USA pageant.

In support of the Special Olympics, York attended the 7th Annual Polar Plunge at Carolina Beach, North Carolina. York was also a guest at the Special Olympics Bowling Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina, and at the Special Olympics Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding Event in Boone, North Carolina. York took part in Charlotte STYLE Magazine's 25 Most Stylish Event by modeling for the Go Red Celebrity Fashion Show. York participated in Relay for Life Kids Walk in Murfreesboro, North Carolina on April 16, 2011.

On April 17, 2011, York was featured on an episode of Byline: Wilmington, a television talk show that highlights local people, places, and events in and around Wilmington, North Carolina. On May 16, 2011, York appeared in her first live television interview on WRAL-TV, a news station that serves the Raleigh, Durham, and Fayetteville area.

On May 24, 2011, York, along with 44 other Miss USA 2011 contestants, arrived in New York City to take part in a three-day media tour. The contestants were greeted by the reigning Miss USA, Rima Fakih. On May 26, the contestants were featured on the morning news show, Fox and Friends.

Miss USA

York represented North Carolina in the Miss USA 2011 Pageant held on June 19, 2011 at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada but was unplaced. Alyssa Campanella of California won the crown and was crowned by the outgoing titleholder Rima Fakih.

Personal life

York is currently living in Raleigh, North Carolina where she is a student at North Carolina State University majoring in zoology.