[01/13/2002]Marla Beth Brooks was crowned Miss Vicksburg and Jennifer Adcock was named Miss West Central Mississippi Saturday night.

Both will compete in the Miss Mississippi pageant here in July.

In the third competition Saturday at the Vicksburg Auditorium, Julie Michelle Holliday was crowned Miss Young Vicksburg.

Brooks, 20, was crowned by Miss Vicksburg 2001 Melanie Sanders. This was Brooks’ third year in the competition. Last year she was first runner-up, and she was second runner-up in the Miss Hinds Community College 2000 competition.

“It’s such an honor to represent my city,” Brooks said, who competed against three other young women for the title. She said she is looking forward to the state pageant, which is a preliminary to the Miss America competition in Atlantic City in September.

“I’ve always wanted to go,” Brooks said. “It will be a growing experience, hopefully.”

Brooks is the daughter of Donald and Marlene Brooks. She is a graduate of Vicksburg High School and attends Hinds Community College and plans to major in elementary education. She plans to use her platform to advocate literacy for children.

Brooks danced a jazz interpretation of Expose’s “I Specialize In Love” for the talent segment. She has performed internationally and at Super Bowl XXV as a member of the American All-Star Dance Team.

First runner-up to Brooks was April Dawn Ivins.

Adcock, 22 and majoring in speech communication at the University of Southern Mississippi, played Khatchaturian’s Toccatta on the piano for her talent as she competed against 10 other young women. She was crowned by Miss West Central Mississippi 2001 Robyn Davis.

“I’m very excited,” she said after her win.

Allison Kellogg was first runner-up to Adcock.

Adcock, the daughter of Jesse and Janet Adcock of Hattiesburg, said her platform focuses on early child care. She said the first three years are critical to childhood development.

Adcock will compete against Brooks for Miss Mississippi. “I’m sure I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Adcock said.

Holliday was crowned by Miss Young Vicksburg 2001 Lurline Marie Lawrence.

“It’s wonderful,” Holliday said.

The competition for Miss Vicksburg and Miss West Central Mississippi is divided into four parts the talent segment, which is 40 percent of the overall score; interviews, which are 30 percent; swimsuit, 15 percent; and evening wear, 15 percent.

In the Young Miss Vicksburg competition, Holliday, 17, is the daughter of Buddy and Jo Holliday. She attends St. Aloysius High School, where she is a member of the Rebelettes Service Club, the Key Club and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She wants to become a physical therapist.

First runner-up to Holliday was Mandi Michelle Pecanty, 17, the daughter of Ken and Lori Pecanty and Dan and Kelly Townshend.

The competitions were sponsored by the Vicksburg Business & Professional Women’s Club.