Five could be Miss Mississippi Marie Wicks’ lucky number.

On the 55th anniversary of the pageant in Vicksburg and on her fifth try at the state crown, Miss Dixie left as the winner.

“Oh, and my brother, my sister and I are all five years apart, too,” Wicks said Sunday in the Miss Mississippi Pageant Corporation office in BancorpSouth’s downtown building.

In previous years, she said, she never immediately decided to compete again, but as each year progressed she decided she wanted another shot at the title.

After winning a talent preliminary last year and being named third runner-up to Miss Mississippi Mary Margaret Roark, she thought she was on the right track and decided she would compete again.

Now, Wicks must prepare for another competition. She will represent the state in the 86th Miss America pageant in January.

To prepare, she said she will work on every phase of the competition.

To win the state title, the pianist played “Persto Agitato” from Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”

Wicks said she plans to promote her platform eyeS.T.A.R.-Eyesight To All Regions, which involves working with vision initiatives and preventable blindness and promoting the Miracle Network.

“I love the state of Mississippi and I just want to see as much of it as I can during this year and to give back to my state,” she said.

Wicks said she also plans to incorporate a life lesson learned from her grandfather, who died two years ago.

“He said people might not remember your accomplishments, but what they do remember is how you treat them,” she said.

Wicks has a double-major in French and international studies and she said she plans to use her scholarship winnings from the Miss Mississippi Pageant to attend medical school and become an ophthalmologist.

First runner-up to Miss Mississippi was Miss Spirit of the South Jasmine Murray of Columbus followed by: 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.