SALISBURY — After weeks of public voting, soft-drink fans have chosen Bria Freed of Fort Myers, Fla., as the second annual Miss Cheerwine.
The Salisbury-based company said in a press release today Freed will “spread the Legend of the South in the ultimate summer job.”
Freed was selected from “a pool of outstanding candidates to represent the 95-year-old family-owned soda as brand ambassador,” the company said in a press release.
In her role as Miss Cheerwine, Freed’s responsibilities will include “spreading good cheer, meeting with Cheerwine fans and introducing the effervescent soft drink to enthusiasts across the Southeast this summer,” the release said.
She will take the reins from Spencer Cummings, who served as the inaugural Miss Cheerwine in 2011.
After the success of last year’s Summer Legend Tour, the public was invited to help choose this year’s representative.
“Cheerwine has some of the most enthusiastic fans in the world, and we wanted to hear their voices when selecting the 2012 Miss Cheerwine,” said Joy Ritchie, assistant brand manager for Cheerwine.
“We’re proud to say that Bria will be joining the family; she’s the living embodiment of the sweetness, smarts, charm and fun that we’ve always been known for.”
Cheerwine described Freed as “joyful, vivacious and delightful.”
“Bria exemplifies the values that have made Cheerwine a Southern icon, balancing her college studies with giving back to the community and working at a local hospital,” the release said.
Freed has loved Cheerwine since she discovered it as a child on family vacations in the Carolinas, the company added.
“When I first discovered Cheerwine at the age of 11, there was something about the bubbles that put a smile on my face right away,” Freed said, “And when it became available in Florida and I heard about this Miss Cheerwine search, I was thrilled. Every sip of Cheerwine brings me back to those times traveling with my family, and I can’t wait to help people make vivid Cheerwine memories of their own.”
Freed will be attending concerts, sporting events and festivals throughout the Southeast this summer.
To learn more about Miss Cheerwine, visit Facebook.com/Cheerwine or Twitter.com/DrinkCheerwine.