Greenwood’s Sarah Jennings walked, interviewed and danced her way into the top five this weekend at the 60th Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant in Hattiesburg.
She finished as third alternate among the 32 contestants who competed Friday and Saturday.
“It was just so much fun,” Jennings said. “It was really neat to give people a taste of where I was from.”
This was only Jennings’ second pageant, and she said she was surprised by her finish.
“I have a picture from when they were announcing the top five, and my jaw is dropped,” she said.
Jennings, a native of Greenwood, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John William Jennings Jr. of Greenwood.
“I learned a lot about Mississippi,” Jennings said. “I enjoyed representing Greenwood.”
Jennings proudly introduced herself to the judges on Friday night as Sarah Jennings from the “Cotton Capital of the World.”
“I would practice my speech in front of other girls from the south part of the state, and they would ask, ‘What is that?’ about different things I talked about,” Jennings said. “It was a learning experience for all of us.”
Jennings placed in the top three for her speech Friday night.
“During the week you have your panel interview, where you don’t know what you will be asked, and the individual interview, where you have a better idea, but the hardest part is the speech because you have to rely on yourself,” Jennings said. “But I must have done something right.”
Jennings studying paid off for both her and her roommate, Claire Walley of Greene County, who won the pageant. They did mock interviews together and went over questions.
“She deserved to win. She is a great person and will be a lifelong friend for me,” Jennings said.
Jennings said she called Walley the next morning to congratulate her again and see how she felt about her victory.
“She said she woke up this morning crying when she saw the crown sitting on her dresser,” Jennings said.
Walley, the daughter of Robin and Ann Walley, attends William Carey University. She is working toward a biology and chemistry degree.
The first alternate was SaSha Williamson of Hattiesburg. Second alternate was Holli Quiroz of Petal. Fourth alternate was Lyndsay Pleas of Mendenhall.
SaSha Williamson of Hattiesburg was named Most Photogenic.
The award for Spirit of Miss Hospitality, which is voted on by the contestants, was Nichole Ball of Winston County.
“All these girls did an amazing job and represented their cities and counties with grace and dignity,” said Pageant Coordinator Traci Rouse. “They made our 60th Anniversary one of the most memorable pageants ever.”
