After a week filled with interviews, performances, and social events, this year’s title of Miss Mississippi has been awarded to Anna Leah Jolly.
Jolly, the second Miss Capital City in a row to win the state pageant after Becky Williams did it a year ago, received the crown and sash on Saturday night following a high-ranking score from the judges during the preliminary rounds of the competition. She won several events, including the talent portion on Friday with a performance in ballet.
Jolly will represent the Magnolia State in next year’s Miss America competition in hopes of bringing the national title back to Mississippi for the fifth time in history. Miss America is scheduled to begin in late December.
As part of her duties as Miss Mississippi, Jolly will work to further her community service initiative called “Limitless,” aimed at challenging the next generation to go as far as they want in life. Plus, she will embark on a campaign across the state, visiting classrooms, communities, and making various public appearances.
Jolly, who attends Belhaven University in Jackson, is the first foreign-born contestant to win Miss Mississippi. She spent the first 12 years of her life in a Ukrainian orphanage before being adopted and moving to Mississippi.
As for the other 32 contestants, numerous scholarships were distributed to the four alternates and seven semi-finalists. Rounding out the top five for Miss Mississippi 2025 were:
- Miss Hattiesburg Jane Granberry (first alternate)
- Miss Vicksburg Morgan Nelson (second alternate)
- Miss University McKenzie Cox (third alternate)
- Miss Metro Jackson Gracie Bassett (fourth alternate)
