The 50th annual Miss MSU Pageant took place Thursday in Lee Hall Auditorium with freshman communication major Sara Beth James taking the crown. James, a native of Madison County, defeated 13 other women to advance to the state pageant in Vicksburg. Sophomore communication major Robyn Ford was named first runner-up, and undeclared senior Danielle Smith received second runner-up with freshman communication major Fenly Akers taking third.
James said she was surprised with winning the title, especially with the caliber of this year’s beauty and talent.
“I was very surprised,” James said. “I would like to emphasize that any one of those girls could and would have made a beautiful Miss MSU, and I am honored to have been given the title.”
As the winner of the pageant, James took home a $1,500 scholarship, a $500 Barnes and Noble gift card and the opportunity to be photographed for MSU-related publications.
With this marking the 50th anniversary of the pageant, numerous previous Miss MSUs, including four former Miss Mississippis, returned to commemorate the occasion. The opening of the pageant featured the three most recent Miss MSUs performing the title song from the movie and Broadway play “Dreamgirls.” During the song, contestants introduced themselves to the crowd and performed choreography.
Earlier in the day, contestants yielded to questions from the contest’s panel of judges about current world events and their experiences at MSU. Their responses were scored and added to their evening wear, fitness and swimwear, talent and interviewing scores that took place during the pageant.
The talent portion of the competition showcased a wide array of skills from pageant contenders, including singing, dancing, the playing of instruments and spoken word performances.
First runner-up Ford chose to dance to the song “Come fly with Me” by Michael Bublé because she said the audience is familiar with the song and its fast paced rhythm.
“[The song] is very catchy … and the audience can tap their feet to [it],” Ford said. “It is important to entertain the crowd, and I believe the song and the dance had a high entertainment value that both the judges and audience could appreciate.”
Aside from the talents, first-time pageant contestant junior Kim Fron said the Miss MSU experience was memorable but not what she expected.
“It was a good first experience, and I enjoyed what I learned from it even though I did not come out with anything but experience,” Fron said. “The backstage environment was both calm and friendly and nothing like what most people think with pageants.”
Current Miss Mississippi Christine Kozlowski was present to speak to those in attendance and be on hand to help crown the winner. Kozlowski spoke of how her life has changed since winning the state pageant.
“Just two weeks after winning the Miss Mississippi Pageant, I was speaking on the floor of the state senate about diabetes,” Kozlowski said. “Winning this pageant has given me the opportunity that when I speak, people listen.”
On her final night as the reigning Miss MSU, senior Corie Stanford took one last walk on stage as a video played behind her showcasing her experience as the face of the university. During the last portion of the tape, Stanford emotionally thanked her family and friends for their support.
Stanford said her last walk symbolized an end to an important year in her life.
“I made many wonderful memories over the past year … it was a great experience,” she said.
After Stanford’s last walk, all the contestants lined up on stage to hear who would become the newest representative of MSU. After garnering the crown, James said she will immediately begin to train for the state pageant, which takes place in June 2009.
“I want to be the best representative of Mississippi State University as Miss Mississippi that I can be,” she said.
As the new Miss MSU, James said she will work hard with campus officials to promote the university and her platform of organ donation.