Miss Mississippi is a scholarship pageant and a preliminary of Miss America. The contest began in 1934, has been held in Vicksburg since 1958, and provides more money than any other scholarship pageant in the Miss America Organization.
Four Miss Mississippis have won the Miss America crown: Mary Ann Mobley (1959), Lynda Lee Mead (1960), Cheryl Prewitt (1980), and Susan Akin (1986).
The current titleholder is Jane Granberry of Hattiesburg, who was crowned Miss Mississippi 2026 on June 13, 2026, at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Mississippi. She competed for the title of Miss America 2027 on September 6, 2026 in West Palm Beach, Florida, and was a Top 11 semifinalist.
Gallery of past titleholders
Results summary The following is a visual summary of the past results of Miss Mississippi titleholders at the national Miss America pageants/competitions. The year in parentheses indicates the year of the national competition during which a placement and/or award was garnered, not the year attached to the contestant's state title.
Placements Miss Americas: Mary Ann Mobley (1959), Lynda Lee Mead (1960), Cheryl Prewitt (1980), Susan Akin (1986) 1st runners-up: Katherine Wright (1949), Patricia Puckett (1966), Joan Myers (1968), Hannah Roberts (2016) 2nd runners-up: Donna Pope (1981) (tie), Dianne Evans (1983), Kathy Manning (1985), Myra Barginear (1998) 3rd runners-up: Christine McClamroch (1971), Wanda Geddie (1984), Christy May (2001), Taryn Foshee (2007) 4th runners-up: Suzanne Dugger (1954), Toni Seawright (1988), Mary Allison Hurdle (1992), Laura Lee Lewis (2017) Top 10: Charlotte Ann Carroll (1963), Karen Hopson (1982), Kimberly McGuffee (1987), Carla Haag (1989), Rebecca Blouin (1995), Monica Louwerens (1996), Kari Litton (1997), Jennifer Adcock (2003), Jasmine Murray (2015) Top 11: Anna Leah Jolly (2026) Jane Granberry (2027) Top 15: Laurice McFarland (1925), Jessie Morgan (1952), Chelsea Rick (2014) Top 16: Kimberly Morgan (2008) Top 18: Dorothy Ely (1933) Top 20: Becky Pruett (2002)
Awards Preliminary awards Preliminary Evening Gown: Jane Granberry (2027) Preliminary Lifestyle and Fitness: Patricia Puckett (1966), Cheri Brown (1979) (tie), Cheryl Prewitt (1980), Donna Pope (1981), Karen Hopson (1982), Wanda Geddie (1984), Kathy Manning (1985), Susan Akin (1986), Carla Haag (1989), Beth Howell (1991), Christy May (2001), Jennifer Adcock (2003), Christine Kozlowski (2009), Chelsea Rick (2014), Vivian O'Neal (2024) Preliminary Talent: Mary Ann Mobley (1959), Charlotte Ann Carroll (1963), Dianne Evans (1983), Lenena Holder (1994), Becky Pruett (2002)
Non-finalist awards Non-finalist Talent: Lennie Nobles (1946), Patricia McRaney (1961), Robbie Robertson (1967), Lenena Holder (1994), Heather Soriano (2000), Sarah Beth James (2011), Marie Wicks (2013)
Other awards Miss Congeniality: Doris Coggins (1939), Dorothy Fox (1942) Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship: Myra Barginear (1998) Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Winner: Emmie Perkins (2023) Jean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Finalist: Holly Brand (2022) Louanne Gamba Instrumental Award: Hannah Roberts (2016) Quality of Life Award 2nd runners-up: Becky Pruett (2002), Asya Branch (2019) Quality of Life Award Finalists: Jasmine Murray (2015), Hannah Roberts (2016), Laura Lee Lewis (2017), Anne Elizabeth Buys (2018), Anna Leah Jolly (2026) Rembrandt Mentor Award: Monica Louwerens (1996) STEM Scholarship Award Winners: Chelsea Rick (2014), Hannah Roberts (2016)
Winners
Year Name Hometown Age Local Title Miss America Talent Placement at Miss America Special scholarships at Miss America Notes2026Jane GranberryHattiesburg23Miss Capital CityDanceTop 11Preliminary Evening GownPreviously Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2021 Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2019-202025Anna Leah JollyBrandon23Miss Capital CityBallet en pointeTop 11Quality of Life Award Finalist2024Becky WilliamsPurvis22Miss Capital CityJazz Dance, "Move You're Steppin' on My Heart"Previously Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi 20202023Vivian O'NealHattiesburg25Miss Pine BeltDancePreliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award 2022Emmie PerkinsHattiesburg21Miss Mississippi State UniversityVocalJean Bartel Social Impact Initiative Scholarship 2021Holly BrandMeridianMiss Golden TriangleJean Bartel Social Impact Initiative FinalistNon-Finalist Talent AwardPreviously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2017
Semi-finalist on Season 23 of The Voice 2019–20Mary Margaret HyerHattiesburg23Miss RiverbendClassical Vocal, "Queen of the Night aria" from The Magic Flute2018 Asya BranchBooneville 20 Miss Tupelo Vocal, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha Quality of Life Award 2nd runner-upLater Miss Mississippi USA 2020Later Miss USA 2020Top 21 at Miss Universe 2020 pageant2017 Anne Elizabeth BuysVicksburg21Miss VicksburgBallet en pointe, "Viva" by Bond Quality of Life Award Finalist Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2013Cousin is married to Miss Mississippi 2009, Anna TadlockLater 4th runner-up at Miss Mississippi USA 2021 2016 Laura Lee Lewis Brookhaven 23 Miss Dixie Vocal, "A Piece of Sky" from Yentl 4th runner-upQuality of Life Award Finalist Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 20093rd runner-up at National Sweetheart 2014 pageantDuke of Edinburgh's Award gold medalist 2015 Hannah Roberts Mount Olive 22 Miss University of Southern Mississippi Classical Violin, "Zapateado, No. 2, Opus 23" 1st runner-up Louanne Gamba Instrumentalist ScholarshipQuality of Life Award FinalistSTEM Scholarship Award Previously Distinguished Young Woman of Mississippi 20112nd runner-up at Distinguished Young Woman of America 2011 competition 2014 Jasmine Murray Columbus 22 Miss Riverland Vocal, "Something's Got a Hold on Me" Top 10 Quality of Life Award Finalist Previously Miss Mississippi's Outstanding Teen 2007 Top 10 at Miss America's Outstanding Teen 2008 pageantAmerican Idol Season 8 Finalist3rd African American to be crowned Miss Mississippi 2013 Chelsea Rick Fulton 23 Miss Amory Railroad Festival Vocal, "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" Top 15 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness AwardSTEM Scholarship Award 2012 Marie Wicks Ocean Springs 22 Miss Dixie Piano, "Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement" Non-finalist Talent Award 2011 Mary Margaret Roark Cleveland 20 Miss North Central Mississippi Piano, "Nostradamus" by Tonci Huljic 2010 Sarah Beth James Madison Miss Metro Jackson Piano, "Piano Fantasy" by William Joseph Non-finalist Talent Award 2009 Anna Tadlock McCool 23 Miss New South Vocal, "A New Life" from Jekyll & Hyde Married cousin of Miss Mississippi 2017, Anne Elizabeth Buys 2008 Christine Kozlowski D'Iberville 19 Miss Gulf Coast Jazz Dance Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award First Latina to be crowned Miss Mississippihttp://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080628/FEAT0701/80628016&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL 2007 Kimberly Morgan Oxford 24 Miss Heritage Vocal, "God Bless the Child" Top 16 Second African American to be crowned Miss Mississippi 2006 Taryn Foshee Clinton 21 Miss Byram Tri County Piano, "El Cumbanchero" by Rafael Hernández Marín 3rd runner-up 2005 Kristian Dambrino Grenada 20 Miss Grenada County Original Vocal & Piano Composition, "Pearlington's Prayer" 2004 Jalin Wood Waynesboro 23 Miss Metro Jackson Piano, "Cumana" Later Miss Mississippi USA 2007 2003 Allison Kellogg Madison 22 Miss Madison County Ballet en Pointe, "The Firebird"Quality of Life finalist Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 1999 Top 8 2002 Jennifer Adcock Hattiesburg 22 Miss West Central Mississippi Piano, Rhapsody in Blue Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 1998Later Miss Mississippi USA 2005Top 10 at Miss USA 2005 pageant 2001 Becky Pruett Laurel Miss Deep South Vocal, "Whatever Lola Wants" Top 20 Preliminary Talent AwardQuality of Life Award 2nd runner-up 2000 Christy May Pontotoc 24 Miss Pontotoc Piano, "Theme from The Apartment" 3rd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award 1999 Heather Soriano Philadelphia 22 Miss East Central Mississippi Vocal / Dance, "Trouble" from Smokey Joe's Cafe Non-finalist Talent Award Later Miss Mississippi USA 2002 1998 Melinda King Waynesboro Miss Hattiesburg Vocal, "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)" 1997 Myra Barginear Grenada 23 Miss West Central Classical Vocal. "Una Voce Poco Fa"' from The Barber of Seville 2nd runner-up Dr. David B. Allman Medical Scholarship 1996 Kari Litton Pontotoc 23 Miss New South Vocal, "Cry" Top 10 1995 Monica Louwerens Greenville 21 Miss Magnolia Vocal, "Vanilla Ice Cream" from She Loves Me Rembrandt Award for Mentorship 1994 Rebecca Blouin Batesville 23 Miss Dixieland Classical Vocal, "Quando me'n vò" 1993 Lenena Holder Booneville 24 Miss Magnolia Classical Vocal, "Un Bel Di" from Madama Butterfly Non-finalist Talent AwardPreliminary Talent Award 1992 Kandace Williams Tupelo 23 Miss Tupelo Vocal, "Ain't It Good" from Children of Eden 1991 Mary Allison Hurdle Holly Springs 24 Miss DeSoto County Classical Vocal, "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta" from La rondine 4th runner-up 1990 Beth Howell Clinton 21 Miss Dixie Magic Act Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 1987 1989 Cherry Busby Tupelo 19 Miss Tupelo Vocal, "My Funny Valentine" 1988 Carla Haag Hattiesburg 23 Miss Dixie Vocal Medley, "Here's to the Band" & "Alexander's Ragtime Band" Top 10 Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Previously Mississippi's Junior Miss 1983 1987 Toni Seawright Moss Point 23 Miss Mississippi University for Women Popular Vocal, "I'm Going All the Way" 4th runner-up First African American to be crowned Miss Mississippi 1986 Kimberly McGuffee Mendenhall 23 Miss Lamar County Popular Vocal, "Inseparable" Top 10 1985 Nan Sumrall Hattiesburg Miss Hattiesburg colspan=3 Later known as Nan Kelley, host on Great American Country TV Susan Akin Meridian 21 Miss University Vocal, "You're My World" Winner Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award 1984 Kathy Manning Drew 22 Miss University of Mississippi Country Vocal, "Crazy" 2nd runner-up Preliminary Lifestyle & Fitness Award Later Miss Mississippi USA 1987Top 10 at Miss USA 1987 pageant