MSU students take top honors at Miss Mississippi Pageant

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Press Release) — Mississippi State students gave a strong representation for the university during the 2014 Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg which concluded July 12.

Jasmine Murray, a sophomore communication/broadcasting major from Starkville, took the crown and will represent the Magnolia State September 14 at the Miss America Pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Murray, who competed as Miss Riverland, reached the Top 10 in 2013 as Miss MSU.

This year’s Miss MSU, Laura Lee Lewis, earned first alternate. Lewis is a junior elementary education major from Brookhaven.

“Laura Lee was a very strong competitor and showed a lot of grace and integrity the entire week,” said Amelia Treptow, MSU assistant director for student activities. “We could not be prouder of her and the way that she has represented this great university. We also want to wish Jasmine Murray the best of luck at Miss America in September.”

Four of the Top Five Miss Mississippi contestants are affiliated with MSU. Second alternate Randi-Kathryn Harmon, a senior communication/public relations major from Amory, competed as Miss Historic South. Fourth alternate Jessica Terrill is a 2013 magna cum laude graduate of MSU with a major in communication/broadcasting. She also is a former Miss MSU.

Third alternate Caroline Conerly is a student at the University of Mississippi.

“We are so proud that the ladies from MSU have competed with confidence, beauty and intelligence in a way that has served them well individually in pursuit of their goals. It is a point of pride for the university to have our institution represented so well during Miss Mississippi,” Treptow said.

For more information about Mississippi State University, see www.msstate.edu.