Anna Leah Jolly is just days into her tenure as Miss Mississippi, and the latest crown-winner is already looking forward to competing for a shot to become Miss America 2026.
In her first radio interview since winning the pageant, Jolly explained on Good Things with Rebecca Turner that she prepared for this year’s Miss Mississippi competition like it was Miss America. The shift in mindset helped launch the Belhaven University student from fourth runner-up in 2024 to first place in 2025.
“I fully prepared this whole year that even though I was competing in Miss Mississippi, I was also competing in Miss America at the same time,” Jolly said. “I want to make sure I represent well, so we’re continuing to get ready. Right now, it’s just polishing up the little bit that we have (to work on).”
Further Miss America preparations will include hours of mock interviews, marketing meetings, speaking engagements, and additional media appearances. The former Miss Capital City said she’s ready for everything to come leading into the national competition recently announced for September in Orlando, Fla.
“More preparation for Miss America began the day of the crowning, because we only had 10 weeks, and now, we have about nine weeks,” Jolly said. “I just want to get Mississippi behind me and get everyone on board. Hence, why I’m doing all these interviews and trying to make sure everyone gets to know me and what the Miss Mississippi organization is all about.”
As part of her duties as Miss Mississippi, in addition to getting ready for Miss America, Jolly will work to further her community service initiative called “Limitless.” The initiative aims at challenging and encouraging the next generation to go as far as they want and to chase their dreams. It’s rooted in Jolly’s own story, which included spending the first part of her life in a Ukrainian orphanage.
Jolly, who made history as the first foreign-born Miss Mississippi winner, was adopted and moved to Brandon at the age of 12. She said she came to Mississippi with nothing but the clothes on her back – and even those weren’t hers.
“I want everyone to know that no matter where they start in life, they can truly be limitless,” she said. “I came here with nothing. In my opening statement, I told [the judges] that not even the clothes on my back were mine. Speaking a whole different language at the very beginning, not knowing anyone, and starting from scratch here in Mississippi…is something I don’t wish on anyone.
“But look how far it’s gotten me. So, I just want to encourage everyone to keep pushing forward because God has a beautiful plan for your life.”
Now 23, Jolly has proudly called Mississippi home for over a decade. She said that growing up in Brandon was a dream, and she hopes to become the first local since September 1958 to win Miss America.
“It’s really important that as I’m going into Miss America the we really have the whole state just praying,” she said. “We haven’t had a girl from Brandon win Miss America since Mary Ann Mobley, so I would love to bring that back to our town.”
Jolly secured the state crown after a week of preliminaries in Vicksburg, where she received a high-ranking score from judges after winning several events such as the talent category with her performance in ballet. While she does have her eyes set on the months ahead, she did take a moment to look back and commend the other 32 contestants in this year’s Miss Mississippi competition.
“Everyone was so solid. It was 33 of us, and I would say any of us could have been a really good representative for Mississippi,” she applauded.
The 2026 Miss America Competition and Miss America’s Teen Competition will take place Sept. 2-7, 2025, at The Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with tickets going on sale July 25. Representing Mississippi in the younger pageant will be Miss Mississippi’s Teen Avery McNair. The Simpson Academy student won the state pageant in April.
While a Mississippian has never won Miss America’s Teen, five have worn the crown of Miss America: Mobley (1959), Lynda Lee Mead (1960), Cheryl Prewitt (1980), and Susan Akin (1986).
