Murray crowned Miss Mississippi 2014

Published 1:37 am Sunday, July 13, 2014

Miss Mississippi 2014 Jasmine Murray reacts with Miss Mississippi 2013 Chelsea Rick, right, after being announced as the winner of the Miss Mississippi Scholarship Pageant in Vicksburg, Miss., Saturday, July 12, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)

Jasmine Murray, Miss Riverland, a three-year competitor in the Miss Mississippi Pageant, was crowned the 2014 queen Saturday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.
“I am so honored and thankful at this moment … and speechless,” Murray said. “This is a dream come true. I can’t wait to represent Mississippi at the Miss America Pageant.”
Murray, who performed the song “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” from the movie “Burlesque” during the talent portion of the competition, was one of 41 women in this year’s competition, the 57th in Vicksburg.
Murray credited her years in the Miss Mississippi Pageant organization as contributing to her win last night.
“I thing being in this organization since I was about 13 years-old has helped me over the years in every aspect of the competition. It really is something you can’t prepare for overnight this is something you have to create into a lifestyle and I have been able to do that by being involved in this organization,” she said. Murray was crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2007.
Murray will spend the coming months preparing for the 2015 Miss America Pageant, set for Atlantic City in September.
Along with the Miss Mississippi 2014 title and crown, Murray receives a $10,000 cash scholarship.
Murray tied with first runner-up Miss Mississippi State University Laura Lee Lewis of Brookhaven in the first round of the talent preliminaries Wednesday night.
The top 10 were chosen on a point system based on interviews with the judges, talent, swimwear, eveningwear and on-stage questions. After the 10 were named, they competed in each category — except on-stage question — again. Only the top five were asked questions on stage.
Miss Historic South Randi-Kathryn Harmon of Amory was second runner-up; Miss Deep South Caroline Conerly of Hattiesburg third; and Miss North Central Mississippi Jessica Terrill of Starkville, fourth.
Rounding out the top 10 were Miss Turtle Creek Jordin Johnson of Meridian, Miss Dixie Carol Coker of Blue Springs, Miss University Anna Beth Higginbotham of Hattiesburg, Miss Rankin County Morgan Burnett, Miss Delta Blues Shelby Danielle Corn of Brandon.
Four Miss Mississippi winners have won the Miss America title — Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon in 1959, Lynda Lee Mead of Natchez in 1960, Cheryl Prewitt of Ackerman in 1980 and Susan Akin of Meridian in 1986.

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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