Asya Branch, Miss Tupelo, crowned Miss Mississippi

From staff, wire reports Clarion Ledger

Miss Tupelo Asya Branch of Booneville was crowned Miss Mississippi Saturday night in Vicksburg. The televised pageant at the Vicksburg Convention Center concluded the event that started with preliminary competitions Wednesday night.

Branch is a broadcast journalism student at the University of Mississippi.

She dropped to her knees when her name was called and described the win as “unbelievable.”

The new winner earlier won the swimsuit phase of the competition for the second time, also having won it in 2016.

Branch says she wants to increase awareness of the needs of children of incarcerated parents, citing her own father’s time in prison since she was 10. She says she hopes to increase resources and mentors for such children.

Branch also hopes to go to law school.

First runner-up was Miss New South Tanner Fant of Starkville; second runner-up was Miss Northland Holly Harrington of Tupelo; third runner-up was Miss Pontotoc Ridge Dana Wesley of West Point; and fourth runner-up was Miss University of Southern Mississippi Macy Mitchell of Petal.

Miss Mississippi 2018 Asya Branch of Booneville waves to the crowd on Saturday, June 23, 2018, the final night of the Miss Mississippi Pageant at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss.
Branch assumes the title from Miss Mississippi 2017 Anne Elizabeth Buys and will be competing in the Miss America Pageant, to be aired live on ABC, on Sept. 9 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The three nights of preliminary competition begin Sept. 5.

The Clarion Ledger's interview with the new Miss Mississippi will be published online and in print Monday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2018/06/23/asya-branch-crowned-miss-mississippi/728582002/