Marion County’s representative to the annual Miss Hospitality program is excited to represent her downtown.
Sara Randall has been busy preparing to head to Hattiesburg early next week for the annual competition.
“I’ve been working to memorize my speech and commercial, as well as having dress fittings,” she said. “At the competition, we have two separate interviews. We have an interview with all of the judges and then you have individual interviews when you’re one-on-one with them. Those interviews count for a large portion of the event. We also have to make a speech and do a commercial. It’s only 20 or 30 seconds. The commercial promotes Marion County.”
Randall leaves Sunday for the 68th Miss Hospitality Pageant, which takes place on July 21 and July 22 at the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg.
A 2013 graduate of Columbia High School, Randall is currently attending Mississippi State University where she will graduate in December with a degree in civil engineering. She is very active on campus and is a member of multiple engineering and charitable organizations, where she holds several officer positions.
“I’ll go Sunday through Tuesday, we’ll be practicing on stage and going over the different dances that we have,” she said. “We’re not practicing all day; however, we’ll be doing different things around Hattiesburg. We’ll be doing a variety of volunteering. One day we’re going to a pottery place, and we’re going to make bowls. The bowls are then sold and the money used for charity. One of the days we’ll be going to the Hattiesburg Zoo and signing autographs there.”
In its 20th year as host city, Hattiesburg will showcase this year’s best and brightest young women as they compete for the title of Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality. Twenty-five women, who are all currently enrolled in a college or university in Mississippi, will vie for the state title, with the winner serving for a full year as the state’s official ambassador for economic development and tourism.
The pageant originally began in 1949 under then-Governor Fielding Wright and the Mississippi Legislature. Since that time, the Pageant has called the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Starkville and, now, Hattiesburg home. Presented by Visit Hattiesburg and Mississippi Development Authority, in conjunction with the University of Southern Mississippi, the City of Hattiesburg, and Forrest General Hospital, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant offers more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes to the top finalists.
“Hattiesburg is delighted to be in its 20th year as host city of this statewide program, which promotes ambassadorship in tourism and economic development,” Jennifer Parsons, Miss Hospitality program coordinator, said. “Each year, we have a talented group of young female leaders participating in Miss Hospitality, who eagerly await the opportunity to showcase their love for their hometowns and for Mississippi. As the contestants, along with their friends and family, travel to Hattiesburg for the event, we are also excited to share with them all our city has to offer.”
During pageant week in Hattiesburg, contestants will attend social events, take part in community service projects, and participate in required rehearsals and competitions, leading up to the crowning of the 2017 Mississippi Miss Hospitality on Saturday evening.
“On Friday night, everyone is on stage,” Randall said. “We will do our commercial and do a few different dances. We are in our evening gowns for one segment.”
Guests will enjoy the entertainment productions on both Friday and Saturday evenings along with the competition. Vocal and dance performances by contestants and local groups, including the Forrest General Spirit Girls, will provide festivities for both evenings. The finale is set for Saturday evening, where the Top 10 contestants will compete for the crown.
“On Saturday night, everyone comes out on stage for a few minutes,” she said. “Then only the Top 10 compete that night. If you make Top 10, you repeat what you did the night before, and then they will announce the winners.”
Every year Miss Hospitality generates approximately $450,000 in economic impact for the local Hattiesburg economy. During Miss Hospitality week, visitors stay in area hotels, dine in local restaurants, enjoy other tourist attractions, and shop at local retail locations.
Randall said the competition should help her when she graduates and heads out into the work world.
“I think the interviewing with Miss Hospitably will really help, especially preparing me for interviews with potential employers,” she said.
Many friends and family will be in attendance as Randall vies for the state Miss Hospitality title.
“My aunt and uncle from the Coast are coming up, and of course, my family from Marion County,” she said.
Randall is the daughter of Deedee and Michael Randall and has a brother, Ty, and sister-in-law, Brooke.
Well-wishers can email her at sararandall13@gmail.com.
“I’m very excited to have the opportunity to represent Marion County,” she concluded. “I’m looking forward to next week.”
Pictured Above: Sara Randall will represent Marion County as Miss Hospitality in Hattiesburg next week. | Photo by Mark Rogers
