Argus Managing Editor
Last November, Kimberly Patrick was named Miss Gospel World USA at the pageant held in K.R. Williams auditorium. Patrick is now reaping the benefits of what it means to wear this crown. Patrick was told she would win a $2,000 shopping spree in New York, a new vehicle, a day at the spa, an appearance on the Maury Povich Show, the Oprah Show, and various radio stations, and a shot at a record deal. The first thing Patrick did was jump into the studio and record her first single. Now she is anxious to finish the rest of her demo album. “We’re working on the second one. I’m writing all of my own music,” Patrick said. Though Patrick is wearing the crown for Miss Gospel USA, she said that her album is not gospel. “These are all R&B songs,” she said. The faculty in the music department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro train Patrick on her voice, pitch and technique while she records in the studio in Greensboro. “I’m performing with a live band,” Patrick said. She said her first single took about 15 hours to record over a span of three days. Patrick was supposed to be performing just a few songs with a band, but once Dr. Horace Fulton (coordinator of the pageant) and Michael Bennett (CEO of One Hit Records) heard her voice, they decided to make her the main attraction. Besides recording, Patrick is enjoying a few of her other gifts. “I’ve already started going to the spa. The name of it is Image Within,” she said. Patrick said she goes once every other week. Patrick has not received any information of when she is scheduled to appear on the Maury Povich or Oprah show, but she anticipates that it will be soon. She added, “I haven’t received a check, yet, but the car is ready.” She said her mother is getting the insurance together before she can drive it. “I’ll probably just send that car home because I don’t need another one here at school,” she said. A wardrobe will be delivered to Patrick by the end of February just in time for her to prepare for her appearances in a few local jazz clubs. Patrick will be scheduled to perform at different local jazz spots like Thea’s in Winston-Salem, and a few others in Greensboro.