Proud to be from ‘Miss Sippy’

Published 4:57 pm Monday, August 17, 2015

Katherine Bailess, a Vicksburg native, is giving Los Angeles a taste of Southern hospitality in the VH1 series “Hit the Floor.”

Bailess, 35, plays Kyle Hart, one of the elite Los Angeles ‘Devil Girl’ professional basketball dancers who also just happen to be from Mississippi.

As for her home of Mississippi, Bailess said she often jokes about some of the stereotypes many have.

“Sometimes I say I didn’t wear shoes, and I drove a tractor to school and they go ‘really?’” she said. “But when they visit they say, ‘Wow, Vicksburg is really classy and warm and hospitable.’”

Bailess is the daughter of Bobby and Natalie Bailess, and a graduate of St. Aloysius High School. After focusing on dance and musical theatre at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, she went on the study at the William Esper Studio’s two-year intensive program.

“I love living in Los Angeles, but I do miss the South. I miss my family and friends, and I miss the sunsets. I always go watch the sunsets by the river. It’s my little secret getaway when I go home. It’s like ‘I’m going to Walmart mom,’ and then I go to the overlook and watch the sun go down. I always take a picture,” she said. “I think it’s the most beautiful sunset with the bridges.”

Bailess has appeared on TV shows including “Gilmore Girls,” “One Tree Hill,” “The Loop” and “NCIS,” and her film credits include “From Justin to Kelly” and “Bring It On Again.”

“I’m proud to be from Mississippi,” Bailess said. “I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. When people ask me where I’m from I say Miss Sippy.”

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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