Find out what some Miss Hospitality contestants say is their vision of Mississippi
Diversity is one of the best qualities found in Mississippi, and one Miss Hospitality contestant aims to show that to the world.
"Everywhere I go, I'm always meeting somebody new, especially in college," said 19-year-old Emily Williams, who is representing Lamar County in this year's Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition. "The most interesting thing is the assortment of people you meet."
Williams is one of 41 contestants in the 74th annual Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition that takes place this week in Hattiesburg. The women arrived Sunday from all parts of the state for a week of activities which include rehearsing for the weekend program, networking within the organization and taking part in community outreach in the Hub City.
The Friday and Saturday night competition is sold out, VisitHattiesburg Director Marlo Dorsey said Monday during a news conference at the Saenger Theater, but it will be livestreamed during the event for those who were unable to secure tickets.
The winner of the competition will serve as Mississippi's ambassador for economic development and tourism. Contestants will have the opportunity to win more than $100,000 in scholarship money, including a $25,000 cash award for the winner.
"While you serve the community, we also value the education each of you is trying to achieve on your journey," Dorsey told the young women. "We put a tremendous focus on making sure that we can attract the best and brightest throughout the state."
In addition to the 41 contestants, the program will feature 41 Little Misses, who are 6 to 10 years old. The contestants serve as mentors for the Little Misses.
Williams, a pharmacy major at the University of Mississippi, said she is excited about working with her Little Miss.
"I really thought it was a cool way to give back to future generations," "It's something that is really close to my heart."
Williams is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority at Ole Miss, where she volunteers a lot of her time on campus and in the surrounding community.
She joined the Miss Hospitality program because she saw how much her friends enjoyed it. And Williams wants to be an advocate for her state, both within its boundaries and around the country.
"I saw Miss Hospitality as a way to give back to my community," she said. "Giving back is something that I'm passionate about."
Fellow contestant 19-year-old Faith Sullivan of Mize is representing Smith County in the Miss Hospitality event. She wants to share her love of the state's agricultural assets as a representative of her state. She also wants to encourage more women to go into the agriculture field.
"We have the festivals and fairs and beaches and lot of attractions, but it is a huge agricultural state, and I want to share that," Sullivan said.
She is majoring in agricultural business and marketing at Jones College and plans to attend Mississippi State University as well. She is a member of the Student Government Association and Livestock Show Team at Jones.
Like Williams, Sullivan enjoys the camaraderie among the women competing in the program.
"I have grown up seeing a bunch of people doing it," Sullivan said. "They are like a big family. Everybody is so close to each other and that is something I love. I am really excited about this week. I'm so excited to see who is crowned Saturday night."
To find out more about the Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition, visit misshospitality.net or follow the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/MSMissHospitality.
Do you have a story to share? Contact Lici Beveridge at lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.
This article originally appeared on Hattiesburg American: Hattiesburg hosts 74th annual Mississippi Miss Hospitality event
