It might just be the cell phones turned on loud to not miss a call, the anxious glances at the phone for an update and the prayers sent from out in the crowd that propel the 44 Miss Mississippi contestants toward the crown.

The goals and aspirations of each potential titleholder are often reflected in their families, and despite the pressure of vying for a crown on the Miss Mississippi stage, being a parent of a contestant might be more difficult.

“I think I’d almost rather be a contestant than a parent,” said Millie Swan, mother of Miss Leaf River Valley Ivey Swan. “It’s that tough to just sit. It is very hard because you know it’s hard to be up on the stage, but it’s hard to be in a spectator too.”

Swan, who competed in Miss Mississippi in 1985 and 1988, has experience both on the stage and in the stands. She said nerves more than anything else make it hard to not hear from her daughter, who she only has contact with after she returns to the hotel late at night or at public events, like the parade, autograph signings and visitation after each night’s preliminary competition.

“When you can’t hear how their day went, we just need that little confirmation that everything is good,” she said. “I know all the parents are anxious everyday to hear from their girls late in the evening.”

Most parents, whether their daughters were competing for the first or fifth time, said being separated from their daughters during the week wasn’t as difficult as the anxiousness they felt for them — and having to wait for updates on how they are doing each day.

Miss Red Carpet City Randi-Kathryn Harmon’s mom, Cindy, said after five years of competition, the separation doesn’t affect her too much, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t anxiously await updates from her daughter.

“If I’m out to dinner, my phone’s on loud and everybody knows it,” she said. “I’m waiting for that call or that text to let me know that she’s okay.”

Tammy Harrington, mother of Miss Tombigbee Holly Harrington, said though she misses seeing her daughter, she knows how capable her daughter is.

“(Holly’s) very independent, so I’m used to her taking care of herself,” Harrington said. “She probably likes it better that way.”

Of course, Harrington said she is just as anxious as every other parent to hear about her daughter’s day.

“I’m anxiously awaiting a quick text saying, ‘I’m okay, Mom. Everything’s fine.’ It’s fun text to get,” she said.

Each mother agreed that their nervousness only got progressively worse throughout the week.

“During competition, I’m sick to my stomach,” Harmon said. “I’m absolutely a basket case, and every night my nerves get a little worse.”

Of course, nervousness extends to each of the contestants’ parents.

“I have butterflies in my stomach all day, and after that 90 seconds on stage, you can breathe again,” Randy Swan, Ivey’s father, said.

The Swans said they had 30 friends travel to Vicksburg to support their daughter during the parade Monday, and they had friends flying in from Los Angeles, Atlanta and all over the country for the competition, proving that support comes from friends and hometowns — not just parents. Millie Swan said the Swan Squad, as they call themselves, would be hard at work the week of the pageant.

“We’ve got people coming in from everywhere,” she said. “I think there are going to be a lot of pink flags.”