In less than two weeks, 2015 Miss Mississippi Hannah Roberts will step on a plane headed to Atlantic City to compete in the 2016 Miss America Pageant.

The Mount Olive native said she has been preparing for the national competition long before she even earned a spot in June’s Miss Mississippi Pageant.

“Because there is only 10 weeks [between winning the Miss Mississippi Pageant and preparing for the Miss America Pageant], you go to Miss Mississippi prepared to go to Miss America,” Roberts said. “So when I started preparing for Miss Mississippi back in October for the following June, I was preparing like I was going to win. I think that is an important tactic, to pretend like you have a bigger goal than you do.”

Roberts was honored Saturday during a sendoff celebration at the Vicksburg Auditorium. The event included a luncheon and a fashion show in which Roberts modeled pieces of her wardrobe she will take to the Miss America Competition.

Models for the event also included the 2015 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Grace Post, the top 15 Miss Mississippi contestants and their princesses and the rest of the top 10 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen contestants and their princesses.

Before taking to the stage for the fashion show, Roberts was in her dressing room snacking on some potato chips.

“I eat anything. I do not believe in restricting to the point that you are miserable. I like food. I’m not saying I eat cheeseburgers everyday and go through the drive through, but I don’t diet. People need to think about it more simply,” Roberts said. “You output what you input to stay the same weight. I do work out quite frequently, which is something I enjoy, and because of that I eat Pringles.”

In preparing for her first competition in the 2013 Miss Mississippi Pageant, Roberts said she did use a trainer to help her with her figure because she was underweight, and it was then she learned the importance of gaining muscle.

Roberts said she now works out everyday.

“One day I do abs and legs, and the next day it will be arms and abs. I do abs every day, and I do cardio every day,” she said.

Along with working out daily, Roberts said she practices for the talent phase of the competition daily and watches at least two hours of news.

“I am really looking forward to the interview. You will get to meet the panel of judges that have been selected for national contestants, and it is a time they get to meet you in your absolute best light. That’s the biggest thing I have prepared for,” Roberts said. “I believe you win or lose in the interview, and that has been our concentration.”

During the fashion show, Roberts was not allowed to model any of the outfits she will be wearing during the competition phases of the pageant, but she did say the gown she will be wearing for the talent phase of the competition has a unique quality.

“It is the favorite thing I have ever worn,” she said. “I absolutely love it, and I will say there is not a single bead on it.”

In addition to bringing home the Miss America crown, Roberts said she hopes to have a wonderful experience.

“That is what you have to think about at the end of the day. This is such a long shot for anybody,” Roberts said. “You have a greater likelihood of having a son play in the NFL than you do a daughter being Miss America. I just hope to return having had a great two weeks.”

The Miss America Pageant will be held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on Sunday, Sept. 13. It will be broadcast on ABC.

Miss Mississippi fans have the opportunity to vote for Roberts as the “America’s Choice” by writing Miss Mississippi on an original post with the hashtag #missamericavote on Twitter or Facebook. For more information, visit www.missamerica.org/vote/.