Each young woman at the Miss Mississippi pageant has a story to tell. Many have overcome adversity to be on the stage at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Some of them talked with us about their journey to becoming Miss Mississippi 2012.
Miss University of Southern Mississippi, Grace Claire Cordes says she learned as a child the importance of music education.
"I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and I was forced to stop all physical activities like soccer and piano and things such as that. And my music educator really reached out to me and she's who pushed me toward singing," said Cordes.
Jessica Terrill, Miss Historic South, is back for a fourth year. She has made the top 10 but says last year health issues were a problem.
"I finally feel like I'm myself again and I finally feel excited again because this is such a fun experience so you really want to look back on it with fond memories," Terrill said.
Miss Mississippi College Taylor Townsend has been named by Governor Phil Bryant as a spokesperson for human trafficking. She says it is even a problem in this state.
"The I-10 corridor is one of the hot spots for human trafficking to take place and along our gulf coast it's the perfect environment for something like that to happen," said Townsend.
Miss Madison Ariel Cheng was born prematurely and she says that is motivation for her to become a doctor and focus on quality healthcare in this country.
"I was born in a very, very small town hospital in State College, Pennsylvania so they had to airlift me to a larger hospital and my dad drove following the helicopter to a bigger hospital," Cheng said.
It was personal tragedy that helped Miss Hinds Community College decide on volunteer work. She lost her grandmother, Vashtie Muse, in a car accident two years ago, but she says her legacy of literacy will continue.
"She has impacted so many people including me. If it was not for her I wouldn't have known how to read going into the first grade," Muse said.
The contestants say life lessons have helped them build confidence, self-esteem and character. All qualities the new Miss Mississippi will have in volumes.
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