Annika Schneider, Miss Metrolina’s Teen 2023, will succeed Hanley House, the former Miss North Carolina’s Teen who was crowned Miss America’s Teen during the Miss America’s Teen competition at the Walt Disney Theater in Orlando on Jan. 13.

“I am extremely humbled and grateful to be accepting the position,” said Schneider, who will hold the title until the June 2024 state competition in High Point. “When I received the call that I could be Miss North Carolina’s Teen, it was surreal. I cannot wait to embrace the role fully and give North Carolina all that I have to offer.”

Stanfield native Annika Schneider will receive the crown of Miss North Carolina’s Teen on Jan. 27. (Contributed)

Schneider, 18, competed as Miss Metrolina’s Teen at Miss North Carolina’s Teen in June 2023, where she won the preliminary evening gown segment, the wellness scholarship award and placed third runner-up. Her achievements earned $2,500 in scholarships from the organization.

A native of Stanfield, Schneider is enrolled at Pfeiffer University Honors College. As a titleholder, she created her Community Service Initiative (CSI) titled “Read with Me,” promoting reading as an educational and therapeutic opportunity for people of all ages.

Schneider will receive the title as the first and second runners-up from the June pageant are still eligible to compete in the 2024 competition.

“In the next six months, I want to expand my CSI, Read With Me, across North Carolina by making appearances in schools across the state,” said Schneider, who also won the title of Miss Stanly County Teen 2022. “I also want to fully support the local titleholders in their journeys while promoting our competition in High Point. I am excited to make the most of the next six months and serve North Carolina.”

Schneider will be crowned during the Miss Queen City and Miss Metrolina Competition at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at Cox Mill High School, 1355 Cox Mill Road, Concord.

Miss North Carolina’s Teen, the teen division of the Miss North Carolina and Miss America programs, is for women ages 13-18 and includes fitness, interview, evening gown and talent competitions on the state level.

As part of the Miss America’s Teen division, participants in the Miss North Carolina’s Teen program can earn educational scholarships at every level of competition.

Since its founding in 2005, Miss America’s Teen has paid nearly $1.5 million in cash scholarships to 200 colleges and universities across the nation in addition to university partners who offer in-kind tuition waivers.