Tiffany Lynne Cummings was crowned Miss Moore County 2000 in October of last year, however, that fact didn’t really sink in until December when Cummings made an appearance at the Jingle Bell Festival, an annual event sponsored by the Moore County Department of Parks and Recreation.

“When I attended the Jingle Bell Festival as a young girl, that was my first exposure to Miss Moore County,” she says. “Every year I would meet the new Miss Moore and get her autograph. It was then that I decided that my dream was to be Miss Moore County one day.”

Cummings, who took early graduation from Union Pines in December, has done a great deal of volunteer work across the county, giving her the chance to see what non-profit groups do for the community.

“I served on the United Way crisis review and allocation committee,” she says. “That means that we traveled all over the county visiting all of the agencies that were requesting funds to see what their programs were accomplishing.”

She recently spoke to the Boys and Girls Club in Southern Pines on violence prevention and awareness, which was her community service platform.

“Before I won the Miss Moore County title, I would’ve never been able to get up and speak to a group,” she says. “The experience has given me confidence and poise — definitely rewarding.”

In mid-June, Cummings joined 34 other young women from across the state at the Miss North Carolina Pageant.

“I was really impressed with the organization and all of the work that goes into the pageant,” she says.

The girls spent Saturday through Tuesday in rehearsal for the production numbers in which they appeared during the rest of the week.

“We’d eat breakfast, go to Memorial Auditorium for rehearsal and go back to Meredith for lunch,” says Cummings. “Then we’d go back to the auditorium until dinner, then back to the college and back to the auditorium until as late as 10:30 p.m.”

The only breaks occurred on Monday and Tuesday as each contestant had an interview with the judges in which she was quizzed about herself and her platform.

“I felt like my interview went well,” says Cummings. “I had been working with some women at Sandhills Community College in preparation and that was a big help.”

Cummings was the second youngest contestant in the pageant.

“Miss Stanly County turned 18 that week,” says Cummings, “so we had a little party.”

She doesn’t believe age is always a determining factor in the judging, although this year’s winner is 23 years old.

“I don’t think age necessarily works against you,” she says. “It may help the contestant who is older because they’ve had more life experience, though.”

The girls competed in talent and swimsuit competition and also appeared in evening gowns during which Mike Kaplan, the master of ceremonies, asked them questions.

Cummings is satisfied that she competed well and did her best.

“I wasn’t really disappointed that I didn’t win, although of course I would have liked to be in the top 10,” she says. “There were some tears at the end, but that was mainly because I was sad yet relieved that the week was over.”

On Friday night, after the evening’s competition, contestants and their families were able to attend the Miss N.C. 2000 party and dance.

“I received good support from family and friends who came to see me compete,” says Cummings. “I could see their ‘glow sticks’ out in the audience when I came out on stage.”

Although Cummings cannot compete for the Miss Moore County title again, she is eligible to enter pageants in other areas and possibily return to Miss North Carolina competition.

“I have six years in which to try again,” she says. “I’m not sure if I will, but there’s always a possibililty.”

Cummings has been attending Sandhills Community College and had intended to go to Fayetteville Technical Community College to enter the dental hygienist program.

“I discovered that they only take 28 students each year and there’s no guarantee that I would get in the program even if I go to FTCC,” she says. “I decided to stay at Sandhills and enter the two-year radiography program in the fall of 2001.”

Cummings plans to take elective courses for a couple of semesters and also work full-time during the spring and summer.

The Miss Moore County Scholarship Pageant Association has just held an information session for young women ages 17 and over who are interested in entering the local pageant coming up in October.

“I think there will be a good group,” says Cummings, who will be involved in planning the pageant.

Cummings is quick to praise the Miss Moore County Scholarship Association’s committee for their support over the past year, revealing that in talking to some of the other contestants at the pageant in Raleigh, she found that not everyone is so lucky.

“They opened up their hearts and homes to me,” she says. “Joan Frye spent hours helping me shop for my wardrobe for the Miss N.C. Pageant.”

Frye, the executive director of the organization, handled all of the scheduling for events Cummings attended as well as the necessary paperwork involved for the Miss America organization.

“Pat Ann McMurray worked with me on my community service and talent presentation as did Cathy McCanless,” says Cummings, “and many others helped with transportation and publicity.”

She has mixed feelings about the end of her reign this October, knowing that her childhood dream is coming to an end.

“It’s been a wonderful year,” she says, “and it’s hard to think about it ending.”

Cummings’ advice for aspiring Miss Moore County contestants?