Miss Universe 2016 candidates visited Baguio City on Jan. 18, as part of their pre-coronation night activities. One of them was Miss U.S. Virgin Islands Carolyn Carter, a 27-year-old swimmer who stands 5'7."
In the evening, Carter and her fellow Miss Universe 2016 candidates was introduced to a private dinner party attended by dignitaries of Baguio City. The program was hosted by Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up Shamcey Supsup, who is also from the Philippines.
This is not the first time Carter visited Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach's home country. In fact, Miss Universe 2016 marks Carter's second international beauty pageant in the Philippines.
On Nov. 24, 2012, Carter represented U.S. Virgin Islands in Miss Earth 2012, which was held at the Versailles Palace in Alabang, Muntinlupa, Philippines. She was unplaced. The crown was given to Tereza Fajksová.
Carter can be considered a veteran in international beauty pageants. Before Miss Universe 2016, she represented her country at Miss World 2010 in China and at Miss Supranational 2011 in Poland.
Neither Miss World 2010 nor Miss Supranational 2011 gave Carter a beauty pageant success. The former was won by Alexandria Mills of the United States while the latter was Monika Lewczuk of Poland.
Aside from being an experienced beauty queen, Carter is also a fashion blogger, painter, HIV/AIDS awareness advocate and professional swimmer. A member of the U.S. Virgin Islands National Swim Team, she swam competitively for the St. Croix Dolphins for 11 years.
Although born in New Orleans on Jan. 12, 1989, Carter grew up in St. Croix and graduated from AZ Academy. She then studied art and art history at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Coming from a small island, Carter is the first Chippewa woman to be crowned Miss Universe US Virgin Islands. Watch a glimpse of her visit to Baguio City here: