Miss Grenada County Kristian Dambrino said she hasn’t cried in a year – until Saturday night when she was crowned Miss Mississippi 2005.

Dambrino, 20, competed in the state pageant for the third time this year and had planned for this to be her last – win or not.

“For some reason, I just wasn’t ready to leave Vicksburg, though,” she said.

Greeted with tearful hugs from other competitors, Dambrino smiled through her own tears as the shiny crown sat crooked atop her head.

“I bet I look pretty funny right now, and everyone across the state is looking at me and laughing. I’ve wanted this for so long, and I’ve envisioned myself in this position, but for some reason I can’t think of the words I wanted to say,” she said.

Other Top Five contestants were obviously excited for her and wished her well.

“They couldn’t have picked a better one. She’ll win Miss America,” said Miss Magnolia Jessica Sparks, who was chosen third alternate. This year was Sparks’ fourth time to compete, third time to place in the Top 10 and first in the Top Five.

“She’s great. I’m so excited for her. She’ll be Mississippi’s sweetheart,” said second alternate Miss Clinton Taryn Foshee. Foshee, a third-time competitor, was second alternate last year, too.

Miss Rankin County Tara Smith, a first-time competitor, was first runner-up, and she said she couldn’t believe how well she did.

“I just got into the pageant scene about eight months ago. Maybe I’ve found my niche,” said Smith, 21.

Miss Mid South Angela Allen, who won talent and swimwear preliminaries earlier this week and was third runner-up last year, received the fourth runner-up title.

Other contestants in the Top 10, who were selected based on preliminary scores, were Miss Dixieland Kim Blackwell, Miss West Central Catherine Carter, Miss Northridge Jennifer Moss, Miss New South Lacey Cofield and Miss University Jennifer Jernigan. Each receives a $2,000 scholarship.

After the 1,351,109 text message votes were counted, Blackwell was awarded the $2,500 Cellular South Viewer’s Choice Scholarship.

The contestants were judged 30 percent on preliminary scores, then 30 percent on talent, 15 percent on both casual and evening wear an 10 percent on swimwear in Saturday’s final competition.

Dambrino will stay in Vicksburg this week to help with the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, then return home to Grenada for some relaxation before beginning preparations for the Miss America 2006 Pageant in January.

Traditionally, Miss Mississippi makes a quick trip home, then returns to Vicksburg for a monthlong preparation period with judges and pageant officials before heading to Atlantic City.

The Miss America Organization announced a few weeks ago the national pageant will be moved from September this year to accommodate the televised production on CMT. Miss Mississippi producer Pat Hopson said details about Dambrino’s upcoming work schedule were not complete, but the few extra months of preparation would be an advantage.

As for Dambrino: “I’m just going to keep doing what I’ve been doing because apparently it worked.”

The Vicksburg Convention Center, which holds 1,700 people. was sold out for Saturday’s show, and few seats were empty for the three preliminary competitions Wednesday through Friday.

The new Miss Mississippi, who was first runner-up as Miss Magnolia last year, will receive a $15,000 scholarship in addition to the $400 she received Friday for winning a preliminary competition with her performance of Barbra Streisand’s classic, “Being Alive.”

She attends Delta State University, where she studies graphic design. She is the daughter of Robert J. III and Debbie Dambrino of Grenada.

There were 42 contestants in this year’s pageant, the 47th in Vicksburg, and more than $132,000 in scholarships was awarded to the contestants.