Kelly McCorkle Biography

Kelly McCorkle was born and raised in Greenville, SC. At a young age, Kelly McCorkle was diagnosed with learning disabilities and told she would never graduate from high school or go to college. Her dance teachers even told her parents it was a waste of their time and money--she was never going to be a good dancer. But Kelly's parents told her that if she worked hard and trusted God that she could be successful.

Kelly McCorkle went on to graduate from Eastside High School and Greenville’s Fine Arts Center (1996) and dance in New York City with Joffrey Ballet and Alvin Ailey. Kelly McCorkle also was a cum laude graduate at North Greenville College with a major in Mass Communications. Kelly McCorkle competed in the Miss South Carolina Pageant three times with the titles of Miss Greenville 1998, Miss Lowerstate Carolina 2001 and Miss Golden Corner 2002--where she won the Community Service Award, Preliminary Swimsuit, Preliminary Talent, Over-All Talent, and the title of Miss South Carolina 2002. As Miss South Carolina, McCorkle served as spokesperson for Learning Disabilities Awareness across the state. She spoke 450 times in one year, sharing her inspirational story of overcoming obstacles in her life due to her learning disabilities in dyslexia and auditory processing deficits.

After her reign was completed, Kelly McCorkle moved to Washington, DC to work as a Legislative Correspondent for then-Congressman Jim DeMint. After living in DC for almost one year, Kelly decided to apply for one of her favorite reality TV shows, CBS's The Amazing Race. She and her partner, Former POW Ron Young, where selected and made it to the final round, coming in at third place. Right before Kelly McCorkle left to film The Race, her best friend, Leslie Mazzara was tragically murdered. Leslie's death became an instant national news story and Kelly became the media spokesperson on behalf of Leslie's family, speaking to CNN, Fox News, Good Morning America and media across the country. Kelly is now working with 48 Hours who is airing a special about Leslie.

After The Race, Kelly McCorkle returned to Greenville, where she is working for a marketing company for real estate and resort property. In her spare time, Kelly McCorkle volunteers with the youth at Taylors First Baptist (where she has been a member since age eight), the Learning Disabilities Association and the Calvary Home for Children.

Kelly McCorkle Topics

• Overcoming Learning Disabilities
  
• Christian Testimony
  This topics focuses on inspiring people to take the gifts that they have and put them to use to help others.
• Participating on the Amazing Race
  Based on her experiences on the television show.
• Leadership Skills
  
• Inspiring Students to Make Good Choices
  
• Goal Setting
  
• Overcoming Obstacles
  
• Living Life to the Fullest