Miss Mississippi veterans walked away as winners Wednesday night during the first round of preliminary competitions at the 82nd annual Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Miss Dixie Laura Lee Lewis from Brookhaven won a $500 scholarship with her vocal arrangement of Barbara Streisand’s “A Piece of Sky.”

“I am so honored and blessed. Music has been a part of my life since I can remember,” Lewis said.

This is Lewis’s fourth time to compete in the Miss Mississippi Pageant and her second time to perform the Streisand song.

“The song is so inspiring. Can you see me — can you hear me. I just get inspired each time I sing it,” she said.

Lewis was crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2009. She was named 2nd runner-up to Miss Mississippi in 2013, first runner-up in 2014 and second runner-up again in 2015.

Miss Vicksburg Katie Busby, who is a second year competitor, won the swimsuit preliminary competition and a $400 scholarship.

“I worked so hard for this moment. I was very committed and dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle and being fit,” Busby said.

In addition to being on a very strict diet with minimum cheat meals, Busby said she spent most days in the gym working very hard.

“The gym has become my lifestyle and protein is a huge factor in this. I drink a protein drink every single day,” Busby said.

Busby said, like the Miss America Pageant, the Miss Mississippi Pageant is following suit and having all 44 contestants wear the same style and color swimwear.

This year, Kandice Pelletier designed the blue two-piece swimwear.

The preliminary competitions will resume at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. A composite score from the three preliminary competitions in talent, swimwear, evening wear, on-stage questions and off-stage interviews will determine who will be in the top 10, which will be announced at the beginning of the final competition Saturday night, and the 2016 Miss Mississippi will be crowned. This year’s theme for the pageant is “Take Back the Night.”

Taryn Foshee, who was crowned Miss Mississippi in 2006, serves as the mistress of ceremony for the 2016 pageant, and special guest performers include Michael Minor, Stephanie Stanford Keith, Michael Simeon, Shelby Sutton, Tanner Fant, LaDarius Lee, Devon Moore and the Miss Mississippi Magnolia Prince and Princesses.

Tickets for the pageant are $30 for Thursday, $40 for Friday and $50 for Saturday.

For more information, call 601-638-6746, visit missmississippipageant.com or download the Miss Mississippi mobile app, which will let you purchase tickets, vote on contestants, watch the live stream and receive important push notifications and updates.