Leah Gibson To Represent Ole Miss This Year As Miss University

Ole Miss has a new Miss University as of Wednesday night. Leah Gibson of Starkville took the crown on stage at the Ford Center as the audience erupted in cheers and applause.

Gibson will represent Ole Miss this year, promoting her platform IChoose: Highway Safety Awareness, and she will go on to compete for the title of Miss Mississippi 2017.

All seven contestants brought a variety of styles, opinions and talents for each of the four stages of the competition, but Gibson won both the interview and talent portions of the evening. She floated across the stage in a sparkling champagne evening gown in the evening wear portion and strutted her stuff for the lifestyle portion, as well.

Charley Ann Nix of Batesville took first alternate followed by Asya Branch of Boonville who took second alternate.

Other contestants included Elyssa Howell, Macken’z Smith, Joy Addison and Emma Johnson.

Each of the seven contestants competed in four categories: evening wear, fitness and lifestyle, talent and interview. Contestants were judged by a selected panel based on their performance in each category. The crowd whistled and cheered as each contestant crossed the stage, but things really came to life for the talent portion.

Contestants brought their best as they performed before the judges, displaying talents varying from baton twirling to jazz dancing to vocal performances.

Reining Miss Mississippi, Laura Lee Lewis, and former Miss University, Carol Coker hosted the evening’s events, and both performed special entertainment in addition to the contestants. Other entertainment included a dance number by the Hip Hop Rebs, musical talents by Sam Mooney and pre-show performance by “Landon: The Intern.”
During the moments leading up to the big reveal of the winner, now former Miss University, Coker, bid an emotional farewell as she ended her reign.

The pageant was put on by the Student Activities Association (SAA) and its co-directors of pageants, Bradyn Eaves and Lindsay Miller. The two manage a committee of 25 girls who are responsible for coordinating events like last night.

“It takes a lot of effort, and the girls work so hard,” Miller said before the show.
“You’ll see the best of the best compete for the title.”

The competition began with the evening wear portion when contestants were judged based on beauty, poise, grace and commanding stage presence. The girls each took the stage in a formal evening gown meant to complement her individuality.

This portion was followed by the lifestyle and fitness portion which was designed to judge how well contestants maintain a lifestyle of good physical health and whether she meets the public’s expectation fo Miss University. For this portion, competitors strutted across the stage in swimwear to showcase their fitness and confidence.

Next was the talent portion. Here, each contestant chose to perform based on her best talent, a phase means to provide insight into the girls’ skills and personalities.

Finally was the on-stage question, for which judges asked contestants questions meant to allow contestants to make a “statement of her interests, opinions and aspirations.”

Winners of each category received a scholarship, as did each of the overall winners.

This year, Gibson will travel around the state, promoting her platform and preparing for the Miss Mississippi competition.

Mary Cloud Taylor is a senior print journalism major at The Meek School of Journalism and New Media and an intern for HottyToddy.com. She can be reached at mctaylo1@go.olemiss.edu.