When you’re an MU Monarch, it’s never really a great surprise when the crown fits perfectly. Such was the case over the weekend when Methodist University graduate Katie Strain ’21 won the Miss Fayetteville 2025 Pageant.
When you’re an MU Monarch, it’s never really a great surprise when the crown fits perfectly. Such was the case over the weekend when Methodist University graduate Katie Strain ’21 won the Miss Fayetteville 2025 Pageant (Pageant photo: THOMPSON photography+design).
“The title of Miss Fayetteville means so much to me,” said Strain, who earned an Elementary Education degree at MU and is a second-grade teacher at Overhills Elementary in Spring Lake. “Born at Fort Liberty to a mother who served in the military, Fayetteville has always been home.”
Strain was very involved as a student at MU, serving as a student ambassador for student scholarships, being a sister in Alpha Delta Pi, and being a member of the cheerleading squad that won the Cheerleading Canam Nationals in 2019.
“Methodist University is more than just a school to me. MU is home,” Strain said. “From the moment I stepped on campus, I knew MU was exactly where I needed to be. Navigating college can be overwhelming, but the support I found here made all the difference.”
Strain’s efforts are a testament to never giving up and believing in yourself even when times are hard.
“When I first competed for the title of Miss Fayetteville seven years ago, I struggled with self-confidence and self-worth,” Strain said. “I walked out of the interview room in tears, saying I would never do it again. But I refused to give up. Through hard work and determination, I kept pushing forward… Some goals take a little longer to achieve, but the journey itself is the most rewarding part.”