Powerball winner faints on live tv as she learns of her $1 million jackpot win
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As the clock struck midnight, bringing in the new year, Pamela Bradshaw of Clinton, North Carolina, experienced a moment that would change her life forever.
She became the Powerball ‘First Millionaire’ of the Year.
The win was not just a stroke of luck; it was a dream come true during the festive "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2024" on ABC.
But the win came with a reaction that no one could have anticipated.
When host Ryan Seacrest announced her number live on air, Pamela could not hold back her shock. The news hit her so hard that she collapsed right on the spot.
"Pamela! You’re a millionaire!" Seacrest said, as cameras captured the dramatic moment.
The crowd watched as Pamela fell, overcome by the news. It took a moment, with the help of Seacrest and her daughter Joanna Hinson, for her to get back on her feet.
Then, with a scream of disbelief, "Oh my god!" Pamela let the world know how she felt.
Still in the whirlwind of her win, Pamela expressed her gratitude. "I’m so blessed," she shared, with her daughter holding her close in a loving embrace.
Seacrest couldn't resist a little nudge, bringing up Pamela's earlier promise to share a "little bit" of her fortune with her daughter.
With a light-hearted push, he suggested that maybe Joanna should get a more significant part of the win.
Indeed, this wasn't just any win. Pamela's victory marked the second consecutive year a North Carolinian had scooped up the $1 million prize on New Year’s Eve through the Powerball promotion.
This event involved the North Carolina Education Lottery and 22 other state lotteries.
Second chance win
The journey to Pamela’s million-dollar moment started with a second-chance drawing by the lottery.
This win scored her a VIP trip to New York City, where she was one of five lucky Powerball players from across the nation to be selected for a chance to win the $1 million prize.
For Pamela, winning the trip was a series of firsts: her first flight, her first visit to New York City, and her first sight of the Statue of Liberty.
It was an emotional journey. "I cried on the plane ride and I cried at the Statue of Liberty," she said, recalling the overwhelming experience. "It’s just been so incredible."
The VIP treatment didn't stop there. Her trip was a luxurious four-day, three-night stay, which included an exclusive New Year’s Eve gala right in the heart of Times Square.
Sharing this once-in-a-lifetime trip with her was her daughter, Joanna.
With a million dollars now in her name, Pamela has heartfelt plans for her winnings.
She dreams of a safe, cozy home to call her own. "I would love to have my own home that is mine and that I feel safe in," she expressed. Her vision is simple: a small, pretty, clean cottage with just a bedroom or two – a peaceful retreat that she can secure and cherish.
Pamela's win reminds us all that dreams do come true, even in ways that can knock us right off our feet.
