By Samra Ward
Friday night, the second set of preliminaries at Mississippi’s Junior Miss 2010, proved to be just as strong as the first.
As with Thursday, the evening began with the girls introducing themselves disco-style and an introduction of the emcee, state Sen. Terry Burton.
Then the actual competition began. The girls in the Sapphire group, having done physical fitness and self-expression the night before, took to the stage in the talent competition.
The Diamond girls, on the other hand, performed in physical fitness and answered the on-stage question "What life lesson has helped you prepare for the Junior Miss competition?"
Answers included heart-felt stories and lessons of perseverance, self-confidence, ambition, determination, and living in each moment.
Special entertainment was provided by Alex Parker, who was second alternate, a double-preliminary winner, and the Beth Finch Spirit of Junior Miss award-winner at Mississippi’s Junior Miss last year.
After two nights of intense competition, however, there was only one thing on the girls’ minds: preliminary awards.
After careful deliberation, 16 preliminary awards totaling $8,000 in scholarships were presented by Sidney Anthony, Mississippi's Junior Miss 2009 and first alternate to America's Junior Miss.
Many girls received multiple preliminaries.
"I feel so blessed ... so honored. I honestly can't believe it," said an ecstatic Katherine Thurber of West Jackson County. Thurber was a triple-preliminary winner.
Double-preliminary winners included: Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County; Morgan Davis, Hinds County; Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County; Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian; and Mallory White, Jones County.
Tonight will wrap up Mississippi's Junior Miss 2010. The program will begin at 8 p.m., and the Top 10 finalists will be announced. These girls will compete again in self-expression, talent, and fitness. The girl who takes the title of Mississippi's Junior Miss 2010 will go on to compete at America's Junior Miss in Mobile, Ala., next summer.
Preliminary Winners:
Self Expression
Morgan Davis, Hinds County. Morgan is the daughter of Rhonda Ford and Jason Davis.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Mallory White, Jones County. Mallory is the daughter of Bob and Emily White.
Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County. Rachel is the daughter of Tim and Dawn Burttram.
Talent
Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian. Neeosha is the daughter of James Dubose and Sophia Ruffin.
Anna Beth Higginbotham, Forrest County. Anna Beth is the daughter of Tripp & Sonya Higginbotham
Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County. Elizabeth is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Henry.
Virginia Smith, Clarke County. Virginia is the daughter of JoEtte & Berry Smith.
Scholastics
Elizabeth Henry, Rankin County. Elizabeth is the daughter of Mark and Kathy Henry.
Mallory White, Jones County. Mallory is the daughter of Bob and Emily White.
Rachel Burttram, Lowndes County. Rachel is the daughter of Tim and Dawn Burttram.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Fitness
Neeosha Ruffin, Meridian. Neeosha is the daughter of James Dubose and Sophia Ruffin.
Katherine Thurber, West Jackson County. Katherine is the daughter of George and Patricia Thurber.
Nicole Wall, Pascagoula. Nicole is the daughter of Larry and Vicki Wall.
Morgan Davis, Hinds County. Morgan is the daughter of Rhonda Ford and Jason Davis..
