Miss Mississippi Sendoff Show today
Published 7:49 pm Friday, August 19, 2016
In less than three weeks, 2016 Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis will be heading to compete in the Miss America Pageant.
Lewis, who is representing Mississippin in the national pageant, said she has been working hard since being crowned in June at the Vicksburg Convention Center and is looking forward to the competition.
Today, she will be the headliner at the Miss Mississippi Sendoff Celebration/Fashion Show/Trunk Show, where she will give patrons a glimpse at pieces of her wardrobe she will be wearing at the weeklong competition.
“You will be seeing a few pieces I will be wearing, but the biggest item will be the shoes I will be wearing in the Show Us Your Shoes parade,” Lewis said.
The Show Us Your Shoes parade is held on the Atlantic City boardwalk.
The tradition behind the parade dates back to the ’70s when spectators began shouting, “show us your shoes” to the contestants. In following years since that time, the Miss America Pageant has asked contestant to design shoes representing their state in some way.
Last year, Hannah Roberts’ shoes were designed with sequined magnolias.
“What my shoes will look like is still a surprise, but at the fashion show, you will get to see who the character is on my shoe and all about him,” Lewis said.
Tammy Wells, who is the designer for the shoes, has worked so hard, Lewis said.
“She showed me multiple bags of sequins, so the shoes will be sparkly and all things green.”
The Sendoff Celebration/Fashion Show/Trunk Show is sponsored by the Miss Mississippi Local Directors association in conjunction with the Miss Mississippi pageant and will begin at noon at the Vicksburg Auditorium.
In addition to modeling some of her outfits she will be wearing in Atlantic City, Lewis will also be performing the song she will be singing for the competition portion of the Miss America Pageant, which is Barbara Streisand’s “A Piece of Sky.”
“I love this song and the message it has and I am excited to bring it to Miss America.”
Saturday’s event will also include the top 15 from the Miss Mississippi pageant and the top 10 teens from the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen pageant, who will be wearing some of their favorite pieces, Lewis said, along with their prince and princess modeling clothing from their favorite vendors.
The 2017 Miss America Pageant will be broadcast on Sept. 11 on CBS.
To secure Lewis a spot in the top 15, she said supporters could vote for her in the People’s Choice award.
“I would greatly appreciate votes. It does not cost a thing. It just cost a moment of your time. All you have to do is click a button that says vote, wait a couple of minutes and then your vote is secure. You can vote once every 24 hours.”