Miss Gaston County 2026

Toyota of Gastonia is proud to sponsor Miss Gaston County 2026, Catherine Lee!

Catherine is a senior at NC State University studying Applied Education Studies with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology. As Miss Gaston County 2026, her community service initiative is Threads of Hope: Ensuring No Child Has to Learn on an Empty Stomach. The initiative focuses on food insecurity among students — because kids can’t focus in the classroom when they’re hungry. Threads of Hope works to remove that barrier so students can show up ready to learn.

Beyond her platform, Catherine is also an advocate for heart health through her involvement with the American Heart Association, and she expresses herself through lyrical dance. She previously competed as Miss Gastonia 2025, finishing as 4th Runner-Up, and she’s carried that experience into her current role with confidence and focus.

We’re proud to stand behind someone doing this kind of work in our community. Sponsoring Catherine means investing in Gaston County students, in leadership development, and in the kind of local advocacy that makes a lasting difference.