Emma Daughtry Crowned Inaugural Winner of the ''Essence of Ava: Downtown Smithfield Scholarship Spotl

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and the Ava Gardner Museum are proud to announce Emma Marie Daughtry as the first-ever titleholder of the Miss Downtown Smithfield and winner of the Essence of Ava Scholarship.

Created to introduce Ava Gardner’s enduring legacy to a new generation of young women across Johnston County,the pageant celebrates ambition, character, and deep hometown roots. As the inaugural queen, Daughtry has been awarded a $1,000 educational scholarship to support her future academic and professional goals.

A junior at Princeton High School, Daughtry wowed the audience with an energetic clogging routine during the talent showcase, celebrating a beloved North Carolina tradition. Beyond the stage, Daughtry shares a unique personal bond with the screen legend herself: she grew up along Brogden Road, the very same rural stretch where Ava Gardner spent her formative years.

“Ava Gardner never forgot where she came from, and Emma embodies that exact spirit of small-town pride and drive,” said Helen Caloz, Pageant Director. “We created this program to celebrate leadership and give young women in Johnston County an inspiring jumping-off point for their dreams. We couldn’t ask for a better first official queen to represent Downtown Smithfield and Ava’s legacy.”

Daughtry plans to apply her scholarship toward pursuing a career in healthcare, with aspirations to attend Wayne Community College’s Dental Hygiene program. Driven by an early commitment to servant leadership, she has volunteered at local dental offices since the eighth grade. At Princeton High, she serves as Historian on the Senior Slate of her FFA Chapter, and she regularly volunteers with food and fellowship initiatives at Bizzell Grove Church.

“Though my passion is not under a stage light in Hollywood, I plan to forge my own path within Johnston County and shine the spotlight on the patients I will serve,” Daughtry shared. “To me, community means the place you live, love, and serve. I am honored to use this title to give back to the town and county that raised me.”

Throughout her reign, Daughtry will represent Downtown Smithfield at community events and champion causes close to home. Central to her platform is partnering with the Johnston County and Smithfield Firefighters Associations—a mission personal to her family, as her father, Jeremy Daughtry, serves as the Smithfield Fire Chief.

The Ava Gardner Museum and the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation look forward to expanding the Essence of Ava Pageant in the years ahead, providing ongoing scholarship opportunities and mentorship for high school women across Johnston County.

To learn more about upcoming community appearances or supporting future scholarship initiatives, please visit www.downtownsmithfield.com, and follow Emma on her journey on Instagram at MissDowntownSmithfield26

About the Ava Gardner Museum

Located in historic Downtown Smithfield, North Carolina,the Ava Gardner Museum preserves and celebrates the life,career, and heritage of Johnston County native and Golden Age Hollywood icon Ava Gardner through world-class exhibits, archives, and educational programs.

About the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation (DSDC)