Jasmine Murray, Miss Riverland, a three-year competitor in the Miss Mississippi Pageant, was crowned the 2014 queen Saturday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
“I am so honored and thankful at this moment … and speechless,” Murray said. “This is a dream come true. I can’t wait to represent Mississippi at the Miss America Pageant.”
Murray, who performed the song “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” from the movie “Burlesque” during the talent portion of the competition, was one of 41 women in this year’s competition, the 57th in Vicksburg.
Murray credited her years in the Miss Mississippi Pageant organization as contributing to her win last night.
“I thing being in this organization since I was about 13 years-old has helped me over the years in every aspect of the competition. It really is something you can’t prepare for overnight this is something you have to create into a lifestyle and I have been able to do that by being involved in this organization,” she said. Murray was crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2007.
Murray will spend the coming months preparing for the 2015 Miss America Pageant, set for Atlantic City in September.
Along with the Miss Mississippi 2014 title and crown, Murray receives a $10,000 cash scholarship.
Murray tied with first runner-up Miss Mississippi State University Laura Lee Lewis of Brookhaven in the first round of the talent preliminaries Wednesday night.
The top 10 were chosen on a point system based on interviews with the judges, talent, swimwear, eveningwear and on-stage questions. After the 10 were named, they competed in each category — except on-stage question — again. Only the top five were asked questions on stage.
Miss Historic South Randi-Kathryn Harmon of Amory was second runner-up; Miss Deep South Caroline Conerly of Hattiesburg third; and Miss North Central Mississippi Jessica Terrill of Starkville, fourth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Miss Turtle Creek Jordin Johnson of Meridian, Miss Dixie Carol Coker of Blue Springs, Miss University Anna Beth Higginbotham of Hattiesburg, Miss Rankin County Morgan Burnett, Miss Delta Blues Shelby Danielle Corn of Brandon.
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.