Carrie Everett, who was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, died of stomach cancer on Easter Sunday, family members tell WRAL News.
Everett’s parents told WRAL News their daughter died late Sunday night, asking for privacy. They shared the following statement:
Talented singer used her voice for others
Everett attended North Carolina Central University, where she majored in vocal performance.
In a tribute, NCCU Chancellor Dr. Karrie G. Dixon wrote, “Carrie selected NCCU because of the university’s music program — she enjoyed singing gospel music — and regularly graced NCCU occasions with her beautiful singing voice. Her ambition, grace, tenacity and talent will be deeply missed.”
Everett’s talent was showcased during her reign as Miss North Carolina. After winning the crown in 2024, she told WRAL News that she planned to go back to college and dreamt of becoming a gospel singer.
Before she could live that dream, she was diagnosed with cancer. In July 2025, when she was 21, scans found masses in her abdomen. She had metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma, a highly aggressive cancer that starts in the stomach.
In March, family members posted on a GoFundMe page that Everett’s chemotherapy treatments weren’t working and shared plans to move her out of state for treatment.
Everett, who was the child of immigrants who struggled financially, used her platform to advocate for opportunity for all. In interviews, she said their struggles made her road to the crown a challenge, and that many of the gowns she wore during the pageant were borrowed or from thrift stores.
The Miss North Carolina organization recognized her contributions in a statement.
Dixon wrote, “Her work to recruit young women who may not consider pageants due to the expensive entry fees and wardrobes was commendable.”
Everett was the fourth Black woman to win the title since the pageant began in 1937. She dreamed of working in girl’s education and creating accessibility for future generations.
Cancer uncommon in one so young
Studies show that signet-ring cell carcinoma is most commonly diagnosed in people around the age of 40.
A WRAL Documentary which looked at the increase in cancer diagnoses among young people found that colon cancers are among the 14 different cancers that saw an increase in those under 40 between 2010 and 2019.