Miss Dixie Marie Wicks, a fifth-year competitor in the Miss Mississippi Pageant, was crowned the 2012 queen Saturday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

“I’m still in awe,” Wicks said. “I feel very blessed, honored and humbled.”

Wicks, who was third runner-up last year as Miss Pine Belt/Gulf Coast is a French and international studies double-major graduate of the University of Mississippi.

“Keeping up my spirit to keep on going was the hardest part, it’s been a very taxing week,” Wicks said. “My nervousness went away when I went on stage, though.”

Wicks, who played “Presto agitato” from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” on piano during the talent portion of the competition, was one of 42 women in this year’s competition, the 55th in Vicksburg.

She will spend the coming months preparing for the 2013 Miss America Pageant, set for Jan. 12 in Nevada at the Theatre for the Performing Arts.

Along with the Miss Mississippi 2012 title and crown, Wicks receives a $10,000 cash scholarship, a car to use during the next year and wardrobe money.

Wicks plans to attend medical school and become a doctor.

Miss Spirit of the South Jasmine Murray of Columbus was named first runner-up; Miss Historic South Jessica Terrill of Starkville second; Miss Madison County Chassidy Sumler of Flora, third; and Miss Natchez Trace Chelsea Rick of Fulton, fourth.

Rounding out the top 10 were Miss Mid South Caroline Conerly of Hattiesburg, Miss University of Southern Mississippi Grace Claire Cordes of Vicksburg, Miss Heartland Anna Beth Higginbotham of Hattiesburg, Miss Mississippi State University Stephanie Stanford of Grenada and Miss West Central Mississippi Breanne Ponder of Mount Olive.

Stanford and Sumler were both in the top 10 last year.

Four Miss Mississippi winners have won the Miss America title — Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon in 1959, Lynda Lee Mead of Natchez in 1960, Cheryl Prewitt of Ackerman in 1980 and Susan Akin of Meridian in 1986.