VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) - The 38 Miss Mississippi delegates are in Vicksburg preparing for a week of events, including the annual parade Monday night.
The new Miss Mississippi will be crowned Saturday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
Rehearsals for the 2026 Miss Mississippi Competition will take place every day for the next week in Vicksburg. The 38 delegates will begin preliminary competition Wednesday night with Talent, Evening Wear, On Stage Conversation and Fitness.
The judges interviews begin Monday morning.
Jane Granberry, Miss Capital City, is an Ole Miss graduate. She was first alternate in 2024 and last year. She was Miss Mississippi’s Teen in 2019.
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“It’s always surreal coming back to Vicksburg and one of the things that Miss America and Miss Mississippi does so well is shows personal growth,” Granberry said. “And even looking back to 2024 or even at 16-years-old competing for Teen, I see that growth in myself.”
Miss Starkville Morgan Nelson was second alternate in 2024 and 2025. The Mississippi State graduate is preparing for medical school at UMMC.
“It just goes to show that we can have multiple goals and multiple dreams and that’s what the Miss America opportunity encourages us to do,” Nelson said.
Sarah Randolph, Miss Heart of the South, was third alternate in 2024 and won a Talent Preliminary last year. She is also a Mississippi State graduate and will attend dental school at UMMC.
“Never in a million years would I have imagined getting a talent award,” said Randolph. “But that year I sang a song from the ‘Phantom of the Opera’ and it’s a song that I’ve loved ever since childhood. I am obsessed. So, I’ve been scared to sing it and I actually decided to do it last year and got a talent award so it was the most meaningful talent that I could have gotten that award with.”
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Miss Barnes Crossing Jaycee Janzen made the Top 11 the last two years in 2024 and 2025. The Mississippi State alumna explained the emotion of hearing your name for the chance to become Miss Mississippi.
“It’s surreal,” Janzen said. “I was the last called into the Top 11 last year and I remember standing there looking at so many incredible women that could have that last spot so to hear my name was crazy and incredible all at the same time.”
Nelson, Janzen and Granberry begin the week of preliminary competition Wednesday night with Talent. Randolph competes in Fitness.
Don’t miss our coverage each day this week and Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. with a Miss Mississippi special, Behind The Crown.
That will be followed by the Miss Mississippi Competition at 8 p.m. right here on WLBT.
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