Click here to download the 2008 Official Pageant Guide

State Pageant Requirements

1. Each contestant must have her completed Application Packet which includes the Official Application, Photos, school transcript or official school document giving grade point average, $250 registration fee, and medical release form in or before May 26, 2008 at 5:00PM. Registration check is payable to Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant; mail packet to One Convention Center Plaza, Hattiesburg, MS 39401.
2. Contestants must sell three (3) full pages of advertising for the Official Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant Program at a cost of $300 per page. All ad money and layouts are due on or before May 26, 2008. Submit ad layouts in camera ready format and in PDF format.
3. If a contestant currently attends an out of state college or university and wins the state pageant, she must immediately enroll in a university or college in Mississippi.
4. Contestants must be able to do their own hair and make up at the state pageant. There will be no one allowed in the dorm or backstage before the pageant competition.

State Competitions & Judging

Panel Interview
The Panel Interview Competition will be held on Wednesday of the pageant week. Direct, concise, and relevant questions ranging from world affairs to state and local politics, information on the State of Mississippi, ambitions and goals, personal interests, and questions concerning family and friends may be asked for five (5) minutes. Contestants will wear a business suit, hose, and heels.

One-On-One Interview Competition
This competition will take place on Thursday of the pageant week. Each judge will meet with each contestant for three (3) minutes. The basic tool for conducting this interview is the contestant’s fact sheet, which is a resume of personal credits and a guide for getting to know the contestant. The contestant will wear a business suit, hose, and heels for this competition.

Mississippi Speech Competition
Each contestant will have 90 seconds to present an original speech on "How would you promote our state to a visitor of Mississippi." No visual aids may be used. Contestants will perform the speech before the judges on Friday morning of the pageant week. The contestants will wear Miss Hospitality t-shirts (provided) and khaki shorts for this competition.

Commercial/ Black Dress Competition
Contestants will model a black cocktail dress with minimal beading and rhinestones. When selecting a dress, take into consideration that there will be a production number performed. In addition to modeling the black dress on stage, contestants will present an original 20-second commercial on the importance of their city or county.

Evening Gown Competition
Contestants will model an evening gown of any color. When selecting a dress, take in to consideration there will be a production number performed. During the Evening Gown Competition on Saturday night, the Top 10 will be asked an on-stage question by the emcees. This portion will be scored separately from the evening gown competition.

Photographs

Photographs are used for judging and publicity. They should be of exception quality. Photograph requirements are as follows:

1. Two (2) 5x7-inch and ten (10) wallet-sized black and white official photos must accompany the application. These should be of portrait quality and made by a professional photographer for best reproduction.
2. Official photos must all be the same pose. The required pose is head and shoulders only. Contestants should not wear crown and/or sashes in the official photos.
3. The photographs in the contestant's program advertising pages are not required to be the same pose as the official photographs. They should be of a good quality to produce advertising pages that are of a good quality.
4. Outdoor, Polaroid or candid snapshots will not be allowed.
5. Do not submit soft focus photos. They do not reproduce clearly.
6. Type contestant's name and title on a label and affix it to the back of each photo. Do not write directly on the photos.
7. Do not staple photos together or use paper clips without protection.
8. PHOTOS MUST ACCOMPANY APPLICATION AND AD LAYOUTS.

Information for the State Pageant

Print and fill out this form.  Send the application, along with the completed Application Packet to:

Mississippi Miss Hospitality Pageant
One Convention Center Plaza
Hattiesburg MS, 39401

Application must be received by Monday, May 26, 2008, 5:00PM

• 2008 State Pageant Application(Microsoft Word)
• 2008 State Pageant Application(Word Perfect)
• 2008 State Pageant Application(Adobe Acrobat)
• Application Packet Checklist
• Medical Release Form
• Program Advertising Information
• Press Release