68th Miss Hospitality set for July 21-22 at Saenger Theater

HATTIESBURG, MS - Hattiesburg will host the 68th annual Mississippi's Miss Hospitality July 21-22 at the Saenger Theater.

This will be Hattiesburg's 20th year as host city for the pageant. This year, 25 young women from across the state will gather for a week of social events and community service projects that will lead up to the big event.

“These ladies realize is that their apart of a generation that can really make a mark on our state going forward. And we need them to stay here, we need to keep that talent here. And hope they make an impact and write an even better chapter in our story that the last one.” Hattiesburg Mayor, Toby Barker, said.

2016 Miss Hospitality winner, Mary Elizabeth, says she plans to remind the contestants to keep sisterhood in mind and not competition. “It’s not a competition, it’s, it’s an experience about building each other up as people, as young women, as Mississippians, and enjoying each other, learning from each other.”

“The university is the home of the young ladies away from home. So we roll out the red carpet to show them all of the graces and fortunes of our university.” University of Southern Mississippi's Dean of Students, Dr. Eddie Holloway, says he hopes the girls consider Southern Miss for college and Hattiesburg as home.

For more information on Miss Hospitality click here to visit the pageant's page.