Carrie Everett, the former Miss North Carolina who made history as the first current HBCU student to win the crown, has died at 22 after a battle with a rare gastric cancer.

Everett died on April 5th in the Seattle area, surrounded by family and friends. She was a sophomore music major at NCCU and was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024 while studying there, a milestone that drew attention across the state.

Her family confirmed her death through a GoFundMe account and North Carolina Central University, which remembered her as a trailblazer, singer, and advocate for making pageants more accessible.

“We are heartbroken to share that last night, the beautiful nightingale, Helen Carrie Everett, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer,” wrote her family in an update to a GoFundMe. “The cries of her heart became songs that stirred the spirits of everyone who had the pleasure of hearing her sing.”

Her family said she began having symptoms last summer, including intense bloating and coughing. After an initial misdiagnosis of pneumonia, doctors later found cancer markers, and a biopsy confirmed metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive gastric cancer. A GoFundMe page created for her described a difficult treatment journey; in March, the family said the cancer treatments were no longer working.

NCCU said Everett would be remembered for her leadership and her platform, “We Need Equity to Build Communities,” which advocated for lower barriers in pageantry so more young women could compete.

“Her work to recruit young women who may not consider pageants due to the expensive entry fees and wardrobes was commendable,” said  NCCU’s Chancellor, Karrie G. Dixon, in a statement. “Carrie selected NCCU because of the university's music program - she enjoyed singing gospel music - and regularly graced NCCU occasions with her beautiful singing voice. Her ambition, grace, tenacity, and talent will be deeply missed.”

Her family said her “impact on this world is undeniable,” and the university called her ambition, grace, and talent unforgettable.