Morgan Burnett celebrated a birthday to remember as she was crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen 2008 on Friday night.

“I feel like it’s the best birthday,” said a tearful Morgan, who turned 17.

Morgan took the title over 29 other young women, and also won in both preliminary categories. On Wednesday night, she took home the active wear title; on Thursday, she won the talent award for her jazz dance to “New Attitude.”

“I want to represent Mississippi the best that I can,” Morgan said of her plans as titleholder.

She will next head to the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, set for Aug. 12-16 in Orlando, Fla.

More immediate on her schedule, however, was going back to the hotel Friday night and get something to eat.

Morgan, the daughter of Ive and Valerie Burnett, is a student at Northwest Rankin High School in Brandon. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Beta Club, student government, the cheerleading squad and track team. She plans to attend Louisiana State University, earn a degree in clinical exercise physiology and open her own physical therapy practice and community dance studio.

David Blackledge, executive director of the Miss Mississippi Corporation, estimated a 700-person crowd at Friday night’s competition.

“We’re looking forward to getting Morgan ready for Orlando,” he said. “She’s certainly performed well all week.”

Morgan was the 2008 competition’s only double-preliminary winner.

First runner-up in the three-day pageant was Miss Madison County Allie Odom, 16, of Madison; second, Miss Hattiesburg Scarlett Thomas, 14, of Richton; third, Miss Jones County Kimberly Page, 15, of Ellisville; and fourth, Miss Northridge Stephanie Stanford, 16, of Grenada, who tied for Wednesday’s preliminary talent title.

If you goThe Miss Mississippi Pageant is set for June 24-26 and June 28 at Vicksburg Convention Center. Tickets are available for all four nights for $100; for Tuesday and Wednesday nights, $25 each; for Thursday night, $30; and for Saturday, $50. For information, call the Miss Mississippi Pageant office 601-638-6746.Five others rounded out the top 10 – Miss West Central Carsyn Byars, 15, of Magee, who tied for Wednesday’s preliminary talent title; Miss Southern Magnolia Shelby Corn, 17, of Brandon; Miss Southwest Kelsey Ann Jackson, 16, of Brookhaven; Miss Mid South Laura Lee Lewis, 15, of Brookhaven; and Miss Deep South Mary Margaret Roark, 17, of Cleveland.

The Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen pageant is for girls ages 13 to 17 and focuses on preparing contestants for state pageants, such as the Miss Mississippi contest, which will celebrate its 51st year in Vicksburg June 24-28.