CLAYTON — A new “Miss Clayton High” has been crowned and this year’s winner has already started establishing her reputation as a singing star, winning a statewide vocal competition.

DeAndrea Hargett, 17, won first place in the Miss Clayton High competition earlier this year. Her talent for the competition was singing, and she has since taken her talent to the statewide performing arts competition of the Student Art Festival sponsored by Woman’s Clubs across the state, where she also won first place.

In both competitions, Hargett, a Clayton native, sang a classical French song, “Ouvre Toncoeur,” by George Bizze.

Previous Miss Clayton High, Hunter Rae Houston, also became known for her singing talent. Houston was named Miss Clayton Idol in 2012, Clayton’s version of American Idol.

Hargett was humble about claiming th pageant title. “All the girls were so good, it could have been any one of us,” she said.

Clayton Woman’s Club member Brenda Gay served as a chairperson for the student art festival that Hargett won. She said she could not speak more highly of her.

“We’re going to be hearing more from her,” said Gay. Hargett won first place in the performing arts competition in Clayton, then traveled to the district competition where she won, and finally won first place at the state competition in February.

Though neither of her parents are singers, Hargett has had a lot of experience performing. She sings in the praise team at her church, New Generation Christian Church in Wilson’s Mills.

“I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember,” said Hargett. “When I started talking, my parents said I slurred my words a little bit and my parents said it sounded like I was singing all the time.” Hargett said her parents also told her when she learned to say her ABC’s, she sang them.

In her new role as Miss Clayton High, Hargett will be responsible for representing and supporting a local charity. Last year, Miss Clayton High supported Clayton Area Ministries. Hargett said she has not chosen the charity that she will support yet.

One service activity she’s already taken part in is reading to elementary school students during Read Across America Day at Riverwood Elementary.

This spring, she’ll be performing in the musical “Honk” at school, where she is playing the part of the ugly duckling’s mother.

The contestants in the Miss Clayton High pageant raised more than $1,500 for Clayton Area Ministries.

James: 919-553-7234