NATCHEZ — Mary Kathryn Carpenter has a penchant for storytelling.

She’s a reader and a writer, but, most of all, she enjoys the art of storytelling through photographs.

The 2013 Cathedral High School graduate is currently studying photojournalism at the University of Alabama.

This year, her storytelling has taken on a new face — and a new gown for that matter. She’s helping tell a familiar story, one that is close to her heart. However, this time, she won’t use photos to tell the story. She and fellow Natchez volunteers will share the story of Natchez’s 300-year history in live action scenes at the Historic Natchez Tableaux.

Carpenter is reigning during Spring Pilgrimage as the Pilgrimage Garden Club’s queen, and along with the rest of the royal court, will be presented at the tableaux.

Even her royal crown does a little storytelling of its own.

The silver crown was handmade and custom fitted at a shop in Mobile, Ala. It is engraved with her initials, an Alabama “A,” a camera and has a cross, formed by her family’s birthstones. Her scepter matches it.

The crown is silver to match the threading in Carpenter’s custom, handmade dress. It is an ivory, off-the-shoulder gown covered in lace and beading with a 15-foot train.

Carpenter, of course, enjoyed the royal tradition of choosing her crown, scepter and dress, but says the truly exciting part about tableaux is just being chosen as queen.

“I never thought I would get chosen,” she said. “My mom has put in so much work, though, it really shouldn’t surprise me. It’s such an honor.”

Carpenter moved to Natchez when she was 3 and participated in tableaux growing up. Her previous tableaux experience includes Little Maypole, Big Maypole, Raising of the Flag, junior bridesmaid in the Wedding and Picnic.

“Many of my friends who were in tableaux with me then remained my friends as we grew up,” she said.

For Carpenter, the Historic Natchez Tableaux is a bit difficult to explain to her friends outside of Natchez.

“It’s very Natchez,” she said. “It’s not something you find in other places. When I talk to my friends about it, they’ve never heard of anything like it.”

But perhaps that’s the best part, she says.

“It’s incredibly unique, it’s definitely one of my favorite things about Natchez because of that uniqueness,” Carpenter said. “I’m happy to be a part of telling Natchez’s story, and I am glad to make it part of my story, too.”

Carpenter is the daughter of Emily and Todd Carpenter of Natchez and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Billy Crosswhite of Decatur, Ala., Mr. and the late Mrs. Thomas Sayles of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Carpenter of Tuscaloosa.

At Alabama, Carpenter is an honors college student and a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honor Society and Sigma Rho Chi.

She serves in the honors college as a mentor and is an honors college leadership council member. She is also an editing and design freelancer for The Tuscaloosa News.