For De’Lisha Wiggins, a “hero” is not a famous or historic person but someone much closer to home — her mother.

Wiggins answered the question on stage minutes before being crowned Miss Vicksburg 2010 Sunday afternoon at City Auditorium. “My mother is my hero,” she told the audience, “because she has sacrificed so much to give me so many opportunities in my life.”

Those opportunities have included entering and winning several pageants — including Miss Riverbend 2009 and Miss Hinds Community College 2008 — but the Vicksburg native realized a longtime dream with the win Sunday.

“This is the title I’ve been working toward my whole life,” said the 21-year-old Delta State University pre-nursing major. “I’m so happy to finally be representing the city.”

Also crowned in Sunday pageants were Maggie Evans, Miss Riverbend 2010; Piper Booth, Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen; and Amanda Emerson, Miss Riverbend Outstanding Teen.

“I’m so excited,” said Evans, 21, a native of Bay Springs who previously won a Miss University of Southern Mississippi title and competed for Miss Mississippi in June. “I want to be even better prepared this year, and also have just as much fun.”

Evans is a biological sciences major at USM and plans to teach high school science. She ran on a platform of increasing bone-marrow donor registrations nationwide to help cancer patients and others with diseases affecting the bone marrow.

St. Aloysius sophomore Piper Booth, 16, was the sole pageant newcomer among the four winners. She took home the crown in her first attempt and garnered loud whoops and cheers from the audience when she was named the winner.

The daughter of John and Terri Booth entered to please her grandmother, she said. Piper, who has attended Debra Franco’s School of Dance for 11 years, danced to “Bluebird,” from the ballet “Sleeping Beauty,” for talent.

Emerson, 16, is a junior at Sumrall High School in Sumrall who has been entering pageants since she was 11. This was her third crown, having previously been Miss Outstanding Teen Pine Belt in 2009 and Leaf River Valley East in 2008.

A cheerleader and member of her school softball team, Emerson’s platform is women’s athletics. “It’s important because studies show if you’re involved with sports and participating in athletics you will be healthier,” she said.

In taking the crowns, Wiggins and Evans won $300 cash scholarships. Booth and Emerson will receive $250 each.

Winners of the preliminary rounds in the Teen competition were Lydia Myers of Laurel for talent and Ce Ce Hillman of Union for active wear. Myers pleased the crowd with her spirited performance of “Astonishing,” from the Broadway musical “Little Women.” Both won $25 cash scholarships.

In the Miss competitions, Amber Strange, a graduate of Olive Branch High School and former Miss West Central, won in the swimsuit preliminary and Wiggins took the talent prize for her rendition of “I Am Changing,” from the Broadway musical “Dream Girls.” Both also won $25 cash scholarships.

Pageant runners-up were Taylor Cook for Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen; Hillman for Miss Riverbend Outstanding Teen; Jeralyn Stuart for Miss Vicksburg; and Coriss Watson for Miss Riverbend.

The pageant was hosted by Kiefer Slaton, a Vicksburg native who has performed at the Miss Mississippi Pageant, and Kami May, Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen 2009. It was directed by Amanda Monsour, in her second year in the role.

“Everything went great,” Monsour said. “Now we are going to start getting the girls ready for the state pageants.”

Wiggins and Evans will compete with other winners all over the state for the Miss Mississippi crown at the Vicksburg Convention Center July 14 to 17. Booth and Emerson will compete for Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen, which will be in June.

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The Winners

Miss Vicksburg — De’Lisha Wiggins, 21, of Vicksburg. Wiggins is a junior at Delta State University majoring in nursing. She sang “I Am Changing,” from the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls.” She is the daughter of Melvin Wiggins and Yolanda Martin.

Miss Riverbend — Maggie Evans, 21, of Bay Springs. Evans is a student at the University of Southern Mississippi majoring in biological sciences. She played “Fountain in the Rain,” by William Gillock, on the piano. She is the daughter of Marcus and Iris Evans.

Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen — Piper Booth, 16, of Vicksburg. Piper is a sophomore at St. Aloysius High School and the daughter of John and Terri Booth. She danced to “Bluebird” from the ballet “Sleeping Beauty.”

Miss Riverbend Outstanding Teen — Amanda Emerson, 16, of Sumrall. Amanda attends Sumrall High School and is the daughter of Beverly and Jimmy Emerson. She performed a “clogging” tap-style dance to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.”

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Contact Pamela Hitchins at phitchins@vicksburgpost.com