MERIDIAN, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) — Three young women from the local area will compete in the 77th annual Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition on July 17-18 in Hattiesburg.
Representing the local area this year are Milan Greer, Meridian’s Miss Hospitality, a student at Meridian Community College studying Medical Laboratory Technology; Emory Baxley, Clarke County’s Miss Hospitality, a student at the University of Southern Mississippi pursuing a degree in Nursing; and Ava Parker, Quitman’s Miss Hospitality, who is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Sociology at The University of Southern Mississippi. Joining them in Hattiesburg are their Little Miss Hospitalities, Kenlyn Dakota Keys of Meridian, Lucy Jewel Weathers of Clarke County, and Charli McAllister of Quitman.
Established in 1949 under Gov. Fielding Wright and the Mississippi Legislature, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program promotes the state’s tourism and economic development efforts while providing scholarship opportunities for outstanding young women. The program’s mission is to select a young woman between the ages of 18 and 24 to serve as Mississippi’s Goodwill Ambassador, representing the state and promoting its communities, attractions and economic opportunities at the local, regional and national levels. The 2026 Mississippi Miss Hospitality will receive a prize package valued at $25,000, including cash and college scholarships.
This year’s 43 contestants will compete in five phases of competition: a one-on-one interview, panel interview, 20-second hometown commercial, evening gown presentation and a 90-second speech promoting Mississippi as a whole.
The local Miss Hospitality programs are made possible through the support of Visit Meridian Tourism, sponsor of the Meridian program, and the Clarke County Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the Clarke County and Quitman programs.
Young women interested in representing Meridian, Lauderdale County, Clarke County or Quitman as Miss Hospitality may contact Penny Randall at 601-481-5712 for more information.
