Miss Meridian Ashley Buckman, Miss Dixieland Amanda-Paige Whittington, Miss Tupelo Amy Bright and Miss MUW Ashley Nicole Owen all tied for the preliminary win in swimsuit competition Thursday night during the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg.

The talent winner was Miss Byram/Tri-County Taryn Foshee for her piano rendition of ‘‘El Cumbanchero.’’

Forty-three women are competing in the annual pageant.

Buckman, 21, is originally from Bay Springs. She is the daughter of Dewayne Buckman and Kathy Elliott.

She is a 2002 graduate of Heidelberg Academy and in 2006 received a degree in management from the University of Mississippi. She has applied and is planning to pursue a degree in law from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She plans to become a child advocate attorney.