Fan Favorite is Named 2012 Miss Cheerwine

SALISBURY, N.C., June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After weeks of public voting, fans have appointed the second annual Miss Cheerwine to spread the Legend of the South in the ultimate summer job. Bria Freed of Fort Myers, Florida has been selected from a pool of outstanding candidates to represent the 95-year-old family-owned soda as brand ambassador.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120604/NY18340 )

In her role as Miss Cheerwine, Bria's responsibilities will include spreading good cheer, meeting with Cheerwine® fans, and introducing the effervescent soft drink to enthusiasts across the Southeast this summer.  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."

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. She has loved Cheerwine since she discovered it as a child on family vacations in the Carolinas.

"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," Bria 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."

Bria will be attending concerts, sporting events and festivals throughout the Southeast this summer. To learn more about Miss Cheerwine, please visit Facebook.com/Cheerwine or Twitter.com/DrinkCheerwine.

About Cheerwine

CHEERWINE: Born in the South, Raised in a Glass.

Launched in 1917 by L.D. Peeler, Cheerwine is a soft drink with a flavor that always surprises.  It is an iconic brand from North Carolina.  Owned and distributed by the Carolina Beverage Corporation and Cheerwine Bottling Company in Salisbury, N.C., the 95-year-old company is still privately owned and managed by the same founding family; four generations of whom have worked there. Cliff Ritchie leads Cheerwine as president and CEO. Cheerwine is available in supermarkets and convenience stores in select states nationwide and on the website at www.Cheerwine.com.

SOURCE Cheerwine