With the second round of the 2017 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen preliminary competitions coming to an end Saturday night, the stage is set for Sunday afternoon’s finale.

Winning the talent phase of Saturday night’s competition was Miss Pearl River Valley’s Outstanding Teen Mattie Grace Morris.

The daughter of Mitch and Monica Morris of Brandon danced en pointe to the tambourine variation from La Esmeralda.

Morris, who is a 14–year-old said she has been studying dance for 11 years and learned this dance while at a month-long dance intensive.

“I learned this dance at the American Ballet Theatre summer intensive and fell in love with it,” Morris said.

“It is just so sassy. That is what I love about it. It’s so powerful and sassy, and I love the tambourine. It just adds so much,” she said.

Morris said she dances about 18 hours a week, which includes performing in a ballet company.

Like the preliminary competition held earlier in the day, there was a tie in the evening wear and on-stage question portion of the competition.

Preliminary winners were Miss Southern Magnolia’s Outstanding Teen Annabelle Bunch and Miss All-American City’s Outstanding Teen Morgan Harris.

Bunch is the daughter of Will and Jan Bunch of Saltillo.

She wore a pink gown.

“I saw this dress and I fell in love with it,” Bunch said.

The 15-year-old said her mother, along with her grandmother, via text message, helped her pick it out.

To prepare for the interview portion of the competition, Bunch said she participated in numerous mock interviews and worked one-on-one with an interview coach.

“We sat and basically talked about my daily life,” she said, and then he gave instruction on how to improve my speaking skills.

Harris, who is the daughter of Areda Cockrell-Harris of Jackson, wore a red dress to reflect her platform, she said.

“My director picked out my dress, and it has a lot to do with my platform. My father passed away from a heart attack, so I always wear red to support the American Heart Association.”

The 16-year-old Clinton High School student said the question and answer portion of the competition can be tough, but if you keep up-to-date on current events, answering the questions is easier.

Each of the preliminary winners, were the recipients of a $150 scholarship.

The final competition and crowning of the 2017 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Vicksburg City Auditorium.

Tickets are $40 and are available by calling 601-638-6746 or visiting the Miss Mississippi Pageant website.