A Monticello teen captured the first runner-up title in the Miss Mississippi Teen USA competition this weekend.

Addison “Addie” Carver, 16, competed with more than 30 young women for the title.

Carver is the daughter of Dwayne and Kristi Carney and the late Chuck Carver.

Her motto has been one that comes from the pages of Scripture — “And if not, He is still good.” Even if she did not turn out to be the winner, she was still going to give God thanks and know that he had been good to her.

“I’m so honored to have placed first runner up to the title of Miss Mississippi Teen USA,” she said. “I wouldn’t trade this entire experience for the world. I truly had the best time and wouldn’t change a thing about my performance this weekend. I’m walking away from this weekend with so much gratitude, new friendships, and excitement to come back next year!”

A sophomore at Lawrence County High School, Carver is a varsity cheerleader, BETA Club member, Student Council representative, Diamond Doll, and member of the Future Health Professionals (HOSA). Carver was chosen as Freshman Beauty by her classmates; and as Freshman Beauty, Freshman Most Photogenic, Sophomore Beauty and Sophomore Most Photogenic at the Lawrence County Beauty Review. She is a dancer at Show Stoppers Studio of Dance, where she is a member of the national award-winning Competitive Company, as well as a student teacher.

Following the death of her father when Carver was 13, she developed her organization Dance To Empower. She has made it her mission to keep dancing while sharing her love for dance with others and encouraging everyone to find something they are passionate enough about that can help them through whatever they may face in life.

Carver was sponsored at the Miss Mississippi Teen USA competition by several area businesses — Expectations Too, Paul Barnett Nissan, Leggett Orthodontics, Hurst Review, Members Exchange Credit Union and Next Studios. The pageant is the official preliminary to the Miss Teen USA pageant.

Claire Ulmer, Miss Volunteer Teen USA, was crowned Miss Mississippi Teen USA and will advance to compete in the Miss Teen USA pageant.

“I am so proud of you, Claire, and can’t wait to watch you shine this year,” Carver said. “To the rest of the Top 5 — Lauryl Joyner, Isabella Nolen, Caroline Ulmer — I love all of y’all so much and couldn’t have asked for a better group to share that special moment with. I can’t wait to see the big plans that God has in store for all of us.”

Carver said she was obviously emotional and nervous when she was the last contestant to get called into the Top 5 — “You can see it in the video” — but that she was pleased with her answer to the final question posed to each of them.

“I’m super glad. I did the best I possibly could, and I knew it was in God’s hands, whatever was meant for me,” she said. “I did have a little bit of disappointment, but I’m glad to have made it this far.”

Carver plans to attend Copiah-Lincoln Community College and the University of Mississippi to pursue a career in physical therapy. She also plans to keep competing in pageants, ultimately to vie for (and win) Miss USA. For now she’ll focus on the 2024 Miss Mississippi Teen USA competition.

“I’m super excited to come back next year. I’m not setting any expectations, but it was a super-duper amazing experience.”