Cleo Floyd-Johnstone, a student at Dutch Fork High School, will represent the title of Miss Ballentine’s Teen in the Miss South Carolina Pageant this summer.
This marks Floyd-Johnstone’s second year competing within the Miss South Carolina Organization, where she has already seen significant success. Last year, as Miss Greenwood’s Teen, she placed in the Top 5 as fourth runner-up, won preliminary awards for both gown and talent, and earned the Overall Rookie Talent Award—bringing home $3,000 in scholarships.
“I am so grateful to be the first ever Miss Ballentine’s Teen to represent my hometown,” Floyd-Johnstone said. “My grandma graduated in District Five schools, and so did my mom, and I want to make my school district, family, and community proud. I am so honored for this opportunity where I grew up.”
As part of her pageant journey, Floyd-Johnstone launched her community service initiative, C.L.E.O. for Cancer, which supports children growing up with a parent who has cancer, is in remission, or has passed away from the disease. Through the initiative, she connects children with resources while promoting education and advocacy across South Carolina.
Her efforts have gained statewide recognition. In March 2025, she became the first ambassador for The Lonon Foundation, a nonprofit based in Charleston. Together, they raised $92,000 in 2025 and expanded access to resources, including new materials available through Amazon.
“When people think of cancer, they think there are tons of resources—and while that’s true for patients, it’s not always the case for children,” Floyd-Johnstone said. “There are 41,100 children in South Carolina who have a parent undergoing cancer treatment, in remission, or who has died from cancer.”
Through her work, she has helped promote programs that connect children with child life specialists and virtual support services available nationwide. She also created a “Kids Like Me” series, highlighting local stories of resilience while educating the community about the challenges these children face.
Floyd-Johnstone has also partnered with the Medical University of South Carolina, gaining firsthand exposure to the medical field through opportunities such as observing surgeries, shadowing oncologists, and visiting simulation labs.
“When I started this, I wanted to provide more resources for children like me, and I never could have imagined the doors that would open,” she said. “Even though I am only 16, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with legislators, observe cancer surgeries, and learn from medical professionals. It has shown me the importance of following your dreams and taking action.”
She earned the title of Miss Ballentine’s Teen in October 2025 and quickly began building community support. A local Starbucks even created a specialty drink in her honor—“The CLEO,” a strawberry acai refresher with lemonade.
“We are happy to support Miss Ballentine’s Teen and are proud to have such a strong delegate representing our area,” said store manager Jake Burnip.
Students from Dutch Fork High School and Ballentine Elementary showed their support during the drink’s December launch. The drink will remain available through the pageant in June.
Since earning her title, Floyd-Johnstone has made numerous appearances throughout the Irmo and Chapin communities and continues to advocate for her cause. She is currently raising funds to provide a college scholarship for a local student affected by a parent’s cancer diagnosis.
Supporters can follow her journey and learn more about contributing to the scholarship fund on Instagram at @missballentinesteensc.
The Miss South Carolina Pageant will be held June 13–20 in Columbia.
Cleo Floyd-Johnstone pictured with Miss South Carolina’s Teen, Lilykate Barbare at the Miss South Carolina Ignite Gala at Workshop Weekend.
