Miss Mississippi 2023: Three take awards during first night of preliminary competition

Wicker Perlis, Mississippi Clarion Ledger
Updated ·1 min read

The Miss Mississippi competition officially kicked off its 90-year anniversary Wednesday night, with three competitors taking home preliminary awards.

Contestants are split into three groups, with each group competing in one contest every night in preliminaries beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday saw three preliminary awards handed out, two in talent and one in evening wear. Other categories include interview and health and fitness, a new category for this year's competition.

Preliminary rounds for the 2023 competition will continue through Friday night, and Saturday night will be the finale with the crowning of a new Miss Mississippi at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

The 90th annual Miss Mississippi Competition held the first night of 2023 pageant preliminaries at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss. Women from across the state gave their best in the talent, evening wear, and fitness categories on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.
The 90th annual Miss Mississippi Competition held the first night of 2023 pageant preliminaries at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss. Women from across the state gave their best in the talent, evening wear, and fitness categories on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.

Wednesday night's preliminary winners:

  • Evening Wear: Miss All America City — Krystle Hughes

  • Talent: Miss Leaf River Valley — Neeley Robertson

  • Talent: Miss Mississippi State University (Miss MSU) — Anna Katherine Thompson

The Miss Mississippi Organization also announced the lineup of judges for the 2023 competition.

Miss Mississippi 2022 Emmie Perkins performs during the first night of the 2023 Miss Mississippi Competition held at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss. Women from across the state gave their best in the talent, evening wear, and fitness categories on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.
Miss Mississippi 2022 Emmie Perkins performs during the first night of the 2023 Miss Mississippi Competition held at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, Miss. Women from across the state gave their best in the talent, evening wear, and fitness categories on Wednesday, June 8, 2023.

This year's judges:

  • Kevin Hill of Alabama

  • Joseph Moore of Texas

  • Dr. Vicki King-Maple of Ohio

  • Carol Nesbitt of Colorado

  • Keith Williams of Florida

The Thursday and Friday preliminary competitions and the Saturday finale are available to stream live at missmisslive.com. The finale will also be broadcast live on select local television stations, including WLBT in the Jackson area.

This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Miss Mississippi 2023 preliminary competition winners