An Edgefield woman will represent South Carolina on the national stage after being crowned the newest Miss South Carolina on June 29 at the Township Auditorium.

Davis Wash, who qualified for the pageant as Miss Clemson, won a $60,000 scholarship and a Volvo after being crowned the winner of the Miss South Carolina Scholarship Organization's statewide beauty pageant.

Wash, who has a degree in communications from Clemson University, was last year's runner-up. She founded The Silent Victims, a charity inspired by her personal experience with an incarcerated father.

Wash leads the charity's mentoring programs, educational resources and advocacy efforts focused on supporting children of incarcerated parents. The program's goal is to “break the cycle of stigma and provide a path to healing and success,” the charity's website states.

Miss River Bluff teenager Mary Elle Marchant was crowned Miss South Carolina Teen this year and received a $12,500 savings bond. The River Bluff High School graduate led a nonprofit initiative called “Hang Up and Hang Out,” which encourages young people to use screen time in a healthy way and spend more time connecting in person.

Contestants for the Miss South Carolina and Miss South Carolina Teen pageants compete in several phases of competition, including a private interview, evening wear, talent and health and fitness competition, and an on-stage conversation. Contestants must also have a community service initiative they can support during their year of service.

Wash won preliminary awards in the evening gown, fitness and talent categories, while Marchant won preliminary awards for the overall teen fitness award in the fitness and evening gown categories before ultimately taking first place.

They will represent South Carolina in the Miss America and Miss America Teen pageants next year.