Miss USA Asya Branch prepares to crown the next Miss Mississippi

March 11, 2021 at 6:03 am CST

By FOX13 Memphis.com News Staff

TUNICA, Miss. — A 22-year-old Mississippi native made history last year when she won the title of Miss USA.

Now, Asya Branch is preparing to crown the next Miss Mississippi USA.

She was crowned in November at Elvis Presley’s Graceland in Memphis, the first woman from Mississippi to take the title.

In 2018 she became the first Black woman to win the title of Miss Mississippi.

Branch is currently in Tunica to crown her successor and help with the Miss Mississippi USA pageant.

She grew up in Booneville, one of eight siblings. She graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in integrated marketing.

Branch was an athlete who ran track, danced and cheered for her high school.

In 2018 she sang the National Anthem at a rally for former President Donald Trump.

Branch also has her own beauty line.

Part of her pageant platform is embracing children of incarcerated parents. Her father served 12 years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.

She launched Finding Your Way: Embracing Children of Incarcerated Parents to help others going through the pain of losing a parent to the prison system.

Branch will compete for Miss Universe on May 16 in Hollywood, Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/miss-usa-asya-branch-prepares-crown-next-miss-mississippi/F22MSUZ5HFFWHHFS5PBGCLFSN4/