Before we get started, here’s my standard viewing party call to order:
We’ll share our thoughts / observations / reactions in the comments. This is all in good fun, so let’s please be mindful that somebody’s mama or cousin or great-aunt Ethel could stop by and read what we say (every single year that we’ve done this – and this is the 5th – at least one contestant’s relative has emailed after the pageant to say how much fun they had following y’all’s comments). In other words: let’s do our level best not to say anything hurtful. These girls are young and singing / dancing / performing their hearts out. And I think it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyway) that we dare not criticize during the swimsuit competition. If any one of them showed up at a pool or beach where I happened to be spending the day, I would cover myself with a blanket and run screaming for the indoors. These girls are darlin’.
As far as watching the pageant goes, there are a few options. If you’re in Mississippi, you can watch on WLBT. If you’re like me and in another state, you can watch on the Miss Mississippi pro app, or you can watch the WLBT live feed on your computer or iPad. Here’s the link to the WLBT live feed.
At the end of the pageant, I’ll draw from all the comments for 2 special pageant prizes. One commenter will win seasons 1 and 2 of Designing Women on DVD (just because a little Suzanne Sugarbaker makes any day a good day). The second winner will get a copy of Mississippi author Julia Reed’s Ham Biscuits, Hostess Gowns, and Other Southern Specialties.
So. With all that being said, let’s enjoy the show. I’ll update this post throughout the pageant (you’ll have to refresh the page a lot), and we’ll visit in the comments. It’ll be big fun. See y’all at 8 central!
All righty – quick roll call – who’s here (in addition to Molly)? The live feed is working on my end, and I am so excited!
STOP IT. A POEM ABOUT MISSISSIPPI? I am on the floor dead. So happy.
This might be the best opening number ever. The denim shirts and turquoise jewelry are a nice touch.
I have heard great things about Caroline Conerly from a friend of mine. And I am always happy to see Shelby Corn.
This is the first year when I have watched the pageant and felt like they’re young enough to be my daughters.
Anybody know how many years Jasmine Murray has been in the pageant?
Top 10:
Miss Riverland
Miss Turtle Creek
Miss Dixie
Miss University
Miss Rankin County
Miss North Central Mississippi
Miss Mississippi State University (#HailState) (#GoDogs)
(don’t know title)
Miss Historic South
I’m having trouble with the feed…can anyone fill in the blanks?
I’m moving to the comments! :-)
That was so fun, y’all!
I used random.org to select comment numbers for prizes.
Molly – you won the Designing Women DVDs
Karoletha – you won the Julia Reed book
I’ll email y’all to get shipping info.
Can’t wait for Miss America!
I’m just thrilled to be here!
What happens in a year when the previous Miss Mississippi can’t sing? Is the whole intro song changed to accommodate that? Oh, the pressure.
I think they dance more. :-)
So far the only names I remember are Shelby CORN and CeCe…. so southern :)
I’m gonna comment here, I think. It’s easier. But I mentioned in the post that a friend of mine has said great things about Caroline Conerly. And “Emmaline” is a FINE Southern name. :-)
Miss MSU is cute, but I could be a little biased!
It goes without saying that I’m partial to Miss Mississippi State. :-)
She is DARLIN’.
I am totally partial to Miss MSU!
Just notice the SPARKLY cowboy boots. Oh my goodness.
I know! Those certainly make a statement!
Makes me homesick!
Gorgeous MIssissippi Girls.
I’ve been a Jasmine Murray fan ever since she made an appearance on American Idol a few years ago.
She owned that song. :-)
LOVE the outfits! So southern and summery! Just darlin!
Oh, my word, “Mississippi Girl.” I’m speechless.
That was a lot of dress. :-)
My feed is stopping and starting…having trouble keeping up and missed about 4 of the top 10. This had better not happen during the talent competition. :-)
I just love that there is an entire local news page dedicated to covering the pageant. Not one story, mind you, but a FULL PAGE.
oh yes ma’am…this is SERIOUS business in these parts! :)
ESPECIALLY if there is a twirler!! :-)
I am watching from the lake with two very interested yellow Labrador retrievers. I so happy I have reception!!!!!
I’m so happy you’re here!
Me too, I thought with the constraints of being in the bowels of the Tuscaloosa-walker county line that it might be impossible. This has revived me from the daunting recruitment tasks at the U of A and given me new excitement. Do we know of any unusual talents yet??
Not yet!
Now I’m trying to watch on half the computer screen instead of the iPad…don’t know why the iPad is glitchy.
John Matthew looks appropriately terrified of that ginormous dress.
THAT TRAIN!
Y’all, Suzanne Sugarbaker could not have done any better with this speech. And Suzanne Sugarbaker would have also rocked that pink and purple gown with the tulle train.
Totally!
The children! Are spectacular!
Did they just say Mignon did a standup comdey routine?? I am so sad to have missed that.
ME, TOO! There’s a stand up comedy talent in Miss MS this year, but I don’t think she made the top 10.
Oh, that is so disappointing!!
Hey Soph,
Our Meridian girl, Jordin Johnson, Miss Turtle Creek made top 10 and is darling. She wona talent prelim.
I have my eye on her! She is so pretty!
I LOVE her platform about buying American. She has done a great job this year.
Her dress is my favorite so far.
I have often wondered how people are selected as pageant judges. I think I would like to go to pageant judge training.
May we start a petition to have you named a Miss Mississippi judge? With whom does one file such a petition?
I was once a judge for the Little Miss Clay County, MS pageant. I had absolutely no qualifications which made my introduction quiet strange. “Our next judge is Miss Molly P. A native of Grenada County, she is attending MS State University pursuing a degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice…” Ahem. Weird.
I love it!
They actually had an event earlier this week where you could attend and learn how to be a judge. I did not attend.
The Miss America pageant at least seems to recruit C & D list celebrities…
Do you think it’s a coincidence that Miss Oklahoma 1980 something’s first name is Mignon?
Boomama – Where is your judges invite? You would be the BEST!
Do you see my comment up there? I would LOVE IT.
Just saw it! It would be such an honor to serve your state in that way!
Yessssss!
My live feed is kinda glitchy, but I’m here!
Hey Amber!
I don’t know if I can wait till the talent competition! Will there be opera singers, interpretive dancers, twirlers?
It’s THE BEST PART.
Little Milton! This is the greatest musical number EVER.
I agree! I’m so happy.
One of my favorite songs!
Oh, yes ma’am. We have our first production number with the Miss Mississippi dancers. Sister, are you watching? :-)
LOVE the blue dresses!
5/10 are Bulldogs!
Meaghan! You have come through with the most important statistic of the night! Which ones?
Laura Lee (obviously), Jasmine, Jessica, Shelby, and Randi-Kathryn
This is an awesome statistic! #HailState
There were 12 MSU contestants in all. :)
Oh, this makes my night! #HailState
That is a mighty delicate interpretation of the Freedom Summer. :)
I KNEW you would say something!!!!! :-)
I couldn’t help it! She handled it well. And that dress!
Jasmine Murray is gorgeous. And I can’t hear anything about Freedom Summer without crying, so I’m all in with her platform.
Me too… And her dress, hair, and poise were perfect!
She just tied the economy to the World Cup. It made no sense, but it was MIGHTY IMPRESSIVE and sounded good!
Her arms were mighty impressive, too!
Absolutely gorgeous dresses!
Jordin Johnson’s dress = super elegant.
I agree. I’m not loving the long sleeve dresses.
We are in high cotton! Watching on a big screen tv at a backyard cookout. :0)
FANCY!
Jessica’s dress is gorgeous. Also, I want her hair.
These women are just so smart with their platforms! Impressed! and the dresses are stunning!
There’s a Miss Deep South? Isn’t the entire state “deep south”? (says the Wisconsinite)
Southern Mississippi, I think. :-)
These girls are so poised and beautiful!
I like it when the girls pull their hair back and go for a more simple look. I realize that ths flies in the face of all that is good and right about pageants, but…
I just love that little girl in the front row who waves at each girl as she walks by:)
I know – so sweet.
Boomama, one of those little girls on the front row is Matt Wyatt’s daughter. The other one is Rob Morgan’s little girl. Both of them married Rebels from Vicksburg. They have been going to the pageant since they were born. Both Mama’s have been going since they were little.
Love Randi-Katheryn’s name and dress!
I miss double-names so much. One of those things the north just doesn’t have.
Laura, I don’t know if you saw on Instagram or not, but a few weeks ago I meet an older lady whose name is George Ellen. It has kept me smiling for three weeks.
Oh, that is FANTASTIC. I just ran into a friend at my summer camp reunion who has a little Michael Anne. Cute as can be.
A friend of mine has a new grandbaby whose name is Charlie Kate. I love it.
Randi-Kathrine–now that’s a good southern double name!
Oh girl! Shake your Money Maker!!!
I just had to fight the urge to walk slowly with poise as I went to my kitchen to fetch more watermelon… #beatyqueenwannabe
I am waffling between watermelon and Talenti Coffee with Chocolate Chips gelato. :-)
YUM…tough choice
I will have to give kudos to miss MSU. Lovely presentation.
That is very kind. :-)
TALLLLLLLLLLENT!!!!!!
The current Miss Mississippi is a Chi O from Millsaps, isn’t she?
I think so. Pretty sure about the Millsaps part, at least.
I know she’s a Chi O! Hoodie Hoot!
Hootie Hoot! :-)
TALENT!!!!!
Somebody please teach me how to do my eyeliner like the reigning Miss Mississippi.
Oh, I do adore a strapless pageant jumpsuit.
Love it! ;)
#TeamJasmine
Now THAT is a pantsuit.
great minds! (see comment below!)
Ha, love it!
now THAT is a pantsuit!
Key change!
YES!! There’s interpretive dancing!!!
At my extremely Baptist church growing up, we called this “movement.” :)
Oh, this would not have been allowed at my church growing up!! Don’t you know, dancing is evil!! ;)
in the church of Christ we call that ‘choreography’ ;)
This made me laugh so hard.
Me too!!!
Bahahahaha!!!! THAT’S so true!
I don’t know what a lyrical acrodance is, but I can’t WAIT to find out.
It requires a ball gown.
And dancing with tumbling!
in a ball gown!
Sophie, I do have a connection, albeit long ago as a Sigma Chi little sister, and his first cousin is a dear DG sis, with Sam Haskell, so we could pursue your natural abilities to judge this event if you would like. Also, this is a poorly worded sentence and I’m not going to fix it, even though I realize it’s going to an English teacher
Listen. I have never met Sam Haskell, but if I ever did, I would have more questions for him than he could ever answer. :-) They seem like such a sweet family.
How does her hair stay in place so well?
I bet some cans of Aquanet hairspray are involved!
And a bevy of bobby pins!
Y’all – those arms. Sweet mercy.
So graceful!
Well, I do believe that’s my first experience with a lyrical acro-dance, but that was great and I think I need her to be my personal trainer!
BTW, my girls are named Sarah Grace and Mary McKenzie so I’m all in with the double names too!
I’ll say it again: THOSE ARMS.
Oh my. It’s time for opera.
Time to Say Goodbye….a staple in all good pageants.
So true.
There’s an actual business named Blush & Bashful?!?
http://www.blushandbashfulboutique.com/
Looks like a cute shop!
Oh, cute! Thanks!
You can order online from there all the time. Sweet girl from Vicksburg owns it and is opening another one of the MS Coast. She has great clothes that are SUPER affordable. Such an adorable shop and she sprinkles in her faith all throughout the store.
AEROBIC DANCE. Yes, please.
We are making all the same comments! Cracking me up. :-)
Great minds! :)
Did she just say “aerobic dance”? NEVER BEEN HAPPIER.
Tumbling!!!
She deserves the title of Most Athletic.
For a brief second, I hoped Morgan LIndsay had batons in her hand.
You and me both. And while I appreciate that she’s called it an “aerobic dance,” I’d love to see her try to teach that routine to a bunch of 30- and 40-something women in a gym. :-)
There’s a market for this. Just gotta figure out how to get “Zumba” into the name.
Oh gracious, Sophie! I just howled!
still hoping we get some good baton twirling! btw – love your flag :)
Wish I had excelled that much in my aerobics classes.
That looks like my Curves routine
lol….
I am so tickled.
Ha! I’m sure.
Wow on the aerobic dancing!!!
I could’ve totally done that for about 8 seconds.
I’m finally here! Have company so may not be able to stay but hope to at least see most of the talent!
I’m so glad, Leigh!
Aw, thanks, Sophie.
Dear Jesus,
Please let there be twirlers!
You know her mama is proud she stuck with those piano lessons!
True dat.
Buzzing Bee! Classic pageant choice! I haven’t heard this in a decade or more.
I can already tell y’all – without even talking to her – that this is Mama’s favorite talent. She is always so partial to a good piano player.
Oh me too ’cause I’m a pianist. And it’s got to be hard to to choose a piece that shows technical proficiency and is also crowd pleasing.
I thought the same thing!
Now I know what my piano music has been missing all these years- dramatic drums and sound effects in the background. :)
I noticed that too! I don’t ever remember that addition in past piano performances.
Miss Dixie is from my husband’s very small hometown. Same place Brad Dye is from. ha!
Not sure I have ever seen a pianist in a pageant with backup music. Thoughts?
Well, I guess that’s one way to make sure you don’t go over the time limit:)
I can’t remember if I saw it in Miss America or Miss Mississippi a couple of years ago – but I was shocked that it’s allowed. I think it’s entertaining, but I prefer a solo.
So, I leave for just a minute to tell my kids goodnight and walk back in to hear the end of a piano piece! I’m always partial to pianists… Can’t believe I missed it!
My Frozen obsessed 3 year old, just said ‘Momma – it’s ELSA!’
I LOVE THAT.
My girls (9, 7, and 3) and i are watching from a hotel as we travel! :) Raisin’ these girls right! We just LOVE a scholarship pageant!
Go Laura Leigh! What do I love about you most? Beauty? Talent? Bulldog? Chi O? All things great!!!
Also, I have really enjoyed our emcee. She’s warm and professional.
She is precious!
She’s a doll. I know she is a former Miss America, but is she from Mississippi?
She is… Maybe that’s why she reminds me of Emma Stone. She always seems so warm and genuine to me.
How cute was Miss MSU?
So cute!
Loved her!
Go dawgs! She rocked it!!!!!!
Miss Dixie is my hairdresser’s friend. She was raving over her this week!
She is darlin’.
There’s a posture scholarship?! Oh, I would love to see how that is determined.
Judging by my position on the couch, I would not win.
+1
LOL! Love that.
That would be my mama’s favorite scholarship. She has always been so adamant about good posture. :-)
PREACH.
I love that the chiropractic assn has a posture scholarship!
Tres appropriate. :0)
I think the swim suit competition is coming up. Time for my wardrobe change…into my stretchy pants.
My bad. Talent is not over. Terrible posture position resumed.
No talent competition is complete without a song from Les Mis.
Here it is. Wouldn’t be a pageant without some Les Miserables.
We did it again! See my comment above. :)
Ohhhhh Les Miserable! Love love love this song and she’s doing a GREAT job!
Miserables, thank you auto-correct
Mama will be thrilled to hear that a scholarship was awarded for best posture. I can’t begin to count the number of times while growing up that I was told to “stand up straight”!
“She can sing AND walk in those shoes?!” says a girlfriend.
She should get a posture scholarship!
I would like to give Miss Deep South major props for walking quickly in those five-inch heels.
Sophie, did you know Laura Lee Lewis is a Chi-O? in Catie Marie’s pledge class.
Key change,Sophie!!
Tropicana beat!
I just knew there’d be a Frozen appearance!
She’s brave! That’s a hard song!
YES!! FROZEN!!!
And she even has the dress down!!
Nothing honors Jim Henson like twerking toddlers. ;)