Mississippi Miss Hospitality's win was a 'surreal moment' for Wayne County woman
Abney Grace Pittman said she was shocked to hear her name called as the winner of the 2023 Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition Saturday night.
"It was truly just a surreal moment to actually hear my name being called because it was something that I've dreamed of for so long," the 20-year-old said.
On Sunday, her first full day as Miss Hospitality, Pittman was busy in her new role as an ambassador for Mississippi, but the newness of the title was still sinking in.
"It's been a really great morning," she said. "The shock is still here but it has calmed down a little bit."
Pittman was ready to hit the ground running as a representative of her state, giving her first media interviews and getting a taste of what her new role is like.
"I cannot wait to learn more about our state and meet the people of Mississippi," she said. "I have been learning and preparing about our state for months, but I cannot wait to expand on my knowledge and really learn things that I would never have had the opportunity of learning without Miss Hospitality."
Pittman will participate in numerous events throughout the state that highlight Mississippi’s attractions and industries and serve as a goodwill ambassador for economic development and tourism.
“I am so honored to have this job for the next year. I’m looking forward to sharing Mississippi’s story and many positive qualities every chance I get,” she said.
Pittman was selected by a panel of judges from a pool of 41 contestants after a week of competition that included one-on-one and panel interviews, speeches, on-stage interviews and an evening gown component.
Each of the contestants chose a Little Miss to mentor throughout the year. The Little Miss Hospitalities will serve their communities alongside their mentors.
In addition to competing, the young women toured Hattiesburg and participated in community service activities throughout the city.
"I would like to thank the 40 women who competed in Miss Hospitality with me as well as the board of directors, the presenters and everyone that made this production such a success," Pittman said. "It was simply amazing. I've never seen anything like this"
The University of Mississippi sophomore will continue to work toward a degree in communication sciences and disorders while representing her state.
"Miss Hospitality's priority is education, so I will still be able to participate in all the courses I enrolled in, but I will also be able to make appearances and travel the state," Pittman said. "It's going to be really fun and exciting and super busy."
Pittman is minoring in gerontology and marketing. She plans to further her studies after earning her bachelor's degree and earn a master's and doctorate in speech/language pathology.
She is a member of the Kappa Delta sorority at Ole Miss.
Before transferring, Pittman attended Jones College, where she was a member of the Bobcat Brigade recruiting team. At Jones, she was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa, an international college honor society.
When she has free time, Pittman enjoys painting and has taken up a new hobby — reading.
"I was never a reader in high school, but I guess I'm just mature enough to enjoy books lately," she said.
The bulk of her free time, however, is spent with her sorority sisters and friends.
"I'm always with someone doing something," Pittman said.
When she was younger, Pittman lived out in Wayne County and didn't have as much interaction with people. That changed when she moved to Waynesboro in seventh grade.
"I'm within walking distance to all the best parts of Waynesboro," she said. "(My house) became a social meeting place for all of my friends after school who didn't live in town.
"Everyone would come to my house and hang out before we headed to sports practices or afterschool events and things like that."
After her experience competing in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality event, Pittman wants to encourage other young women who have thought about doing it to give it a try.
"Just go for it," she said. "Just authentically be yourself. This was the first time I've ever opened up to be myself with the judges, and it worked. I would just encourage everybody to take a leap of faith."
Serving alongside Pittman at official events and appearances will be Mississippi’s Little Miss Hospitality 6-year-old Swayze Joiner, daughter of Clarke and Gentry Joiner of Wayne County.
Other Miss Hospitality winners
Others in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality contest who received accolades from judges included the runners-up:
Loren Wade of Petal, first alternate
Maddie Grace Lightsey of Hattiesburg, second alternate
Gabby Bell of Pontotoc County, third alternate
Gracie Bassett of Madison County, fourth alternate
Others who received scholarships and awards during the competition included:
Jay Slaughter Memorial Scholarship, given to top three winners of the 90-second speeches that showcase the state’s history, tourism resources and business assets: Greene County's Dasani Hill; Mendenhall's Jaymee Smith; and Pike County's Jerica Brown.
Mississippi Tourism Association's Social Media Scholarship winner was Kate Fletcher of Jones County.
The Lake Little Spirit of Hospitality Award, voted on by her peers, for her supportive, welcoming and kind behavior during competition week went to Jalyssiah Ott of Meridian. The award is given in memory of Lake Little of Starkville, who died before the competition in 2019.
The Top Ad Sales scholarship was awarded to Peyton Cocroft of Covington County, whose Little Miss Hospitality also sold ads.
The Southern Miss Image Center Most Photogenic Scholarship was awarded to Nya Nobles of Clarke County.
The 2023 Volunteer of the Year was Neshoba County’s local director Laura Bailey, who consistently pours into the local titleholder and Little Miss through public events and mentoring, Miss Hospitality officials said.
For more information about Mississippi Miss Hospitality, visit misshospitality.net or the program’s Facebook page.
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 Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2023 hails from Waynesboro
