Lanie Hudson was crowned Miss South Carolina 2014 Saturday night. She is a former Miss Greater Greer and daughter of Alex Hudson and granddaughter of Bill Hudson, former Clemson football standoiuts. Lanie Hudson is also a Clemson graduate.
Hudson is one-year removed as Miss Greater Greer and a fifth place finish in the state pageant last year. She graduated Clemson with a degree in communications. Her father, Alex, and grandfather, Bill, played football at Clemson University.
Alex Hudson posted on his Facebook page: “She just won. Proud dad!!!
Hudson, from Spartanburg, will compete for the title of Miss America in Atlantic City, N.J., in September.
Miss Boiling Springs Lauren Cabaniss finished 1st runnerup, Miss Fountain Inn Daja Dial was 2nd runnerup, Miss Greenville Scottish Games Kelly Ragan was 3rd runnerup and Miss Clemson Callie Martin was 4th runnerup.
Brooke Mosteller, Miss South Carolina 2013, crowned Hudson, 23, who was wearing a two-piece white gown.
Hudson did a clog dance to Aretha Franklin's "Think" as her talent and answered a question about whether she thought Americans should be allowed to protest abortion clinics, based on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. She was also a finalist for the Quality of Life award, which recognizes outstanding community service.
Hudson was 2008 Miss Spartanburg Teen and was first runnerup in the Miss South Carolina Teen pageant. She missed competing in the 2012 Miss South Carolina pageant when she contracted mononucleosis.
Cabaniss, also a former Miss Greater Greer, has competed four years in the Miss South Carolina pageant and several years in the Miss USA Pageant. She was first runnerup in 2012.
Rounding out the top 10 were: Miss Capital City, Chandler Parnell; Miss Columbia, Mya Kayler; Miss Greater Hartsville, Anna Brown; Miss Landrum, Jordyn Fox; and Miss Spartanburg, Lustra Miller.
Miss Greater Greer Lia Holman earned $3,000 in scholarships, $2,000 as the overall talent winner and $1,000 as a non-finalist talent award.
Miss Greater Hartsville and Greer resident Anna Brown won a $1,000 scholarship.
Fifty-one contestants vied for the 78th Miss South Carolina title.
Hope Harvard, Miss Greater Easley Teen, was crowned Miss South Carolina Teen 2014. She attends Powdersville High School in Anderson County.