For the second night in a row, three contestants were named as preliminary winners during the annual Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Miss Vicksburg Anne Elizabeth Buys and Miss Red Carpet City Kaci Bryant were both named preliminary winners in the talent phase of Thursday night’s competition, and Miss Parade of Beauties Blair Wortsmith, won swimsuit.

Buys, who is a second year Miss Mississippi veteran, danced en pointe to “Viva” by Bond.

“Viva means life, and I feel that this song just embodies everything I stand for. My platform is Water For Life, I love life, I embrace every moment, and this is just literally an opportunity for me to express my love for life, and I get to do it through my love and passion of dance, ” Buys said.

During Wednesday night’s preliminary competition, Buys was named swimsuit winner, making her a double preliminary winner.

“Being a double preliminary winner is definitely a confidence booster, she said, and it is a great way to feel like my hard work has paid off.”

Bryant is also a second year Miss Mississippi veteran and for the competition she performed her rendition of “Nostradamus” on the piano.

“I chose this song because it is so much fun and upbeat, and I really wanted to get the crowd involved,” Bryant said.

Because she had competed last year, Bryant said this year her nerves were calmer.

“I was determined this year that I was going to come out here, and I was just going to leave it on the stage and get the audience involved,” she said.

Buys and Bryant were each recipients of a $500 scholarship.

As a newcomer to the Miss Mississippi Pageant, Wortsmith said she was excited to be named Thursday’s swimsuit preliminary winner.

“This is completely surreal. I am so excited,” she said.

To prepare for the swimsuit phase of the competition, Wortsmith said she ate a healthy diet and exercised.

“I took classes at Orange Theory Fitness. The classes were group workout classes that actually monitor your heart on a screen so you can compete against other class members,” she said. “For someone that is motivated in a competitive environment this was great for me.” 

Wortsmith, who was the recipient of a $400 scholarship, added that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important, whether you are in a pageant or not.

Wednesday’s preliminary winners in the talent phase of the competition were Miss Meridian Tanner Fant and Miss Dixie Holly Harrington.

The final preliminary competition will be held Friday at the Vicksburg Convention Center, beginning at 8 p.m.

A composite score from the three preliminary competitions in talent, swimwear, evening wear, on-stage questions and interviews will determine who will be in the top 10.

The top 10 will be announced at the beginning of the final competition Saturday. From those 10, the next Miss Mississippi will be named and crowned.

Each of the preliminaries and Saturday’s finale are sold out, but Saturday competition and crowing will be televised on WLBT, and it will be live streamed on the Miss Mississippi website.