New Miss Mississippi

US Today - June 28, 2021

Miss Golden Triangle Holly Brand reacts after being named Miss Mississippi 2021 on Saturday night in Vicksburg. Brand will compete in the Miss America competition in December.

Vicksburg: Miss Golden Triangle Holly Brand was crowned Miss Mississippi during the final stage of the competition Saturday night. Brand, a native of Meridian, will compete in the Miss America Pageant in December at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. The televised competition concluded at the Vicksburg Convention Center after three nights of preliminary competitions including talent, evening wear and social impact interview categories. Brand studied communication at the University of Alabama. She was named Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2017. Her social impact initiative is promoting volunteerism in the state. “Mississippi, my state and my home, ranks 50th in the nation for volunteerism,” Brand said during an onstage interview with the top five finalists. “Only 23% of Mississippians volunteer annually, but I know we can do better.” Brand said she would work to increase the volunteer percentage by at least 5% and implement a statewide day of service. She encouraged her fellow Mississippians to make a difference by “seeing a need and taking the lead.” First runner-up was Miss University of Southern Mississippi Vivian O’Neal; second runner-up was Miss Jones County Caidyn Crowder; third runner-up was Miss Pine Belt Macy Mitchell; and fourth runner-up was Miss Pearl of the South Rachel Shumaker.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/50-states/2021/06/28/hiv-sos-miss-mississippi-ice-cream-festival-news-around-states/117249770/