Meridian’s Holly Brand and Philadelphia residents Anna Bowen, Macken’z Smith and Abby Claire Stokes are 45 Mississippi women vying for this year’s overall title of Miss Mississippi.

This year’s competition will be held June 19-22 at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry St.

Following are brief bios of the local contenders:

Holly Brand, Miss Belle of the Bayou

Platform: Bridging the Gap Between the Police and the Policed

Talent: Vocal

College: The University of Alabama

Major: Communication Studies

Scholastic ambition: Graduate with honors in Spring 2021 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies.

Scholastic honors: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, Alpha Lamda Delta Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Lamda National Leadership and Honors Organization, Dean’s List at the University of Alabama.

Macken’z Smith, Miss University of Southern Mississippi

Platform: Skin Cancer Prevention Awareness

Talent: Vocal

College: University of Southern Mississippi

Major: Audiology

Scholastic ambition: Earn doctorate degree in audiology.

Scholastic honors: MACJC Academic All-State; ACT Scholarship; Dean’s List Honors Graduate; University of Southern Mississippi Honor Society.

Anna Bowen, Miss Neshoba County Fair

Platform: Diamond Dreams: Special Needs, Special Lives, Special Kids

Talent: Contemporary Pointe

College: Currently a sophomore at East Central Community College. Will transfer to Mississippi State University in the fall.

Major: Nutrition and Health Promotion.

Scholastic ambition: Obtain master’s degree in Nutrition and Health Promotion to pursue a career as a registered dietician.

Scholastic honors: Dean’s List, President’s List, Phi Theta Kappa, and graduated high school with Special Distinction Honors as 10th in class of 211 students

Abby Claire Stokes, Miss New South

Platform: Georgia on My Mind: End Alzheimer’s

Talent: Lyrical Dance

College: Mississippi University for Women

Major: Nursing

Scholastic ambition: Obtain doctorate in the Science of Nursing

Scholastic honors: President’s List, Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa, Early acceptance to BSN program.