This Sunday, Betsy Clark Nelson of Greenwood will be one of 39 contestants heading to Hattiesburg to participate in the Miss Hospitality Pageant.
Nelson, the daughter of Mike and Sherry Nelson, was chosen to represent Greenwood and Leflore County at a preliminary pageant held during the River to the Rails festival in April.
The winner of the Miss Hospitality Pageant will receive over $75,000 in scholarships and prizes and will travel around the state and country promoting tourism and economic development in Mississippi.
Each contestant must write a 20-second commercial promoting her hometown and a 90-second speech promoting Mississippi.
Nelson's commercial focused on historic downtown Greenwood, The Alluvian and local museums.
"Downtown is coming to life again," Nelson said. "Viking is really helping our town grow."
Nelson graduated from Pillow Academy this spring. While at Pillow, she was a member of the student council, a homecoming maid and editor of the school's Web page. She also participated in cheerleading, softball and basketball and was named one of the Greenwood Commonwealth's Players of the Year for 2007.
She will attend the University of Mississippi, where she will major in broadcast journalism.
Nelson said she has learned a lot about this subject from her mom, who is employed at WABG-TV in Greenville.
During the Miss Hospitality Pageant, the contestants will have interviews and rehearsals throughout the week leading up to the competition, which will be held at 8 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 4 at the Saenger Theater in Hattiesburg. The pageant will include an on-stage interview and an evening wear segment but no talent or swimsuit competition.
"I hope the community will be thinking of me during this time and standing behind me," Nelson said. "I hope I'll set a good example."
For more information on the pageant call 800-638-6877 or visit www.misshospitality.com.
