Maybe the City of Vicksburg shared the anxiety experienced by the women who were arriving in town.

Both would be judged, the Miss Mississippi contestants on their poise and beauty and the town on its ability to play host to a preliminary competition to the Miss America Pageant.

The year was 1958, and Vicksburg’s Mayor, John Holland had secured the franchise for the Vicksburg–Warren County Junior Chamber of Commerce [Jaycees] to host the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg.

In previous years, Biloxi held the honor of presenting the pageant, but now the Red Carpet City of the South had its chance to host the annual event.

“Lenora [S. Slaughter, executive director for the Miss America Pageant,] had said it had become just another show on the Gulf Coast, and she wanted to know if it could be something special if held in Vicksburg,” former resident Jack Ramsey said.

With excitement and apprehension all rolled into one, Ramsey, who also served as one of the first three directors for the state pageant, said things went well the inaugural year.

“Everything fit just right the first year,” he said.

A red carpet was even acquired for the contestant’s arrival.

“I said it was a shame we don’t have a red carpet, so that night some of the guys painted half the block in front of the Hotel Vicksburg (which was serving as the headquarters for the pageant) with red paint,” Ramsey said.

Thirty contestants who had been selected by civic organizations throughout the state of Mississippi arrived in Vicksburg on Aug. 7 in 1958 to compete in the three-day event which included registration, a parent and chaperone meeting, a press conference, a luncheon, a parade, the competitions and a coronation ball.

The Miss Mississippi Pageant was held at the Vicksburg Municipal Auditorium and admission was $1.50.

Bob Evans from Helena, Ark. served as the master of ceremonies, and special guest included Miss America 1958 Marilyn Van Derbur, Miss Louisiana 1959, Miss Arkansas 1969 and Miss Mississippi 1958.

Jaycee member Carey Blalock served as the pageant director the first year, and other members of the Jaycees and Jaycettes helped conduct the pageant from serving as hostesses to working the stage to securing the judges to selling concessions.

It was a big under-taking for the group, but members were organized and professional.

Miss Brandon, Mary Ann Mobley, was crowned the winner on Aug. 9, and her winnings included a trophy, a $500 scholarship, a modeling contract, luggage, a watch and clothing. She, of course, would compete in the national pageant held in Atlantic City.

The first and second runners up received a trophy and a $250 scholarship, and the talent winners for each of the preliminary competitions each won a $250 scholarship.

Following the success of the Miss Mississippi Pageant, the City of Vicksburg reaped great rewards from their winner. During the Miss America Pageant, Mobley won a preliminary talent award with the same performance she had used during the competition phase of the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Referred to as a “saucy performance” by pageantcenter.com, Miss Mississippi’s performance was described as a mock strip-tease while singing “Un bel Di” combined with the jazz song “There’ll be Some Changes Made.”

Ramsey recalled Mobley’s performance during the Miss Mississippi Pageant, “Oh my Lord, she danced and did a little skit to the song ‘There’ll be Some Changes Made,’ and she built up to a very, very, very naughty thing. She took off her skirt,” laughed Ramsey.

“It was the cutest thing, and nobody ever questioned it because it went with the song,” Ramsey said.

Mobley was a stand out during the Miss Mississippi Pageant, and on the final night of watching the Miss America competition on television, Ramsey said a party was held on the mezzanine of the Hotel Vicksburg in the ballroom to watch the national competition.

“We were going to have a huge party and watch the Miss America Pageant, but only 13 people showed up!”

However, less than 30 minutes after Mobley was crowned Miss America [the first Miss Mississippi to win the national title], Ramsey said you could not get near the hotel.

“People were all over. There were traffic jams, and the police and sheriff departments had to be called out,” he said.

All of Vicksburg wanted to celebrated Miss Mississippi being crowned Miss America, Ramsey said.

After winning the national title, Mobley was awarded an additional $10,000 to add to the $500 she was awarded as Miss Mississippi.

Mobley remained a queen for the state even following her year of service as Miss America. She began a theatrical career which included starring opposite Elvis Presley. She also appeared in several television series including “Diff’rent Strokes,” “Fantasy Island,” “Love Boat” and “Falcon Crest,” and she made hundreds of additional television guest appearances.

Mobley married actor Gary Collins, and the couple returned to Mississippi for subsequent performances with the Miss Mississippi Pageant before he death in 2014.

It seemed Vicksburg was on a roll, the following year after Mobley had been crowned, Miss University, Linda Lee Mead, won the title of Miss Mississippi, and she, too, went on to become Miss America.

After the state’s back-to-back Miss America wins, Ramsey said judging for the national pageant changed, and scores for beauty, talent and evening gown were recalibrated.

This, however, did not put a final end to Miss Mississippi winning the national title. In 1980, Cheryl Prewitt was crowned Miss America, and in 1986, Susan Akin won the title.

In Miss America’s most recent history, Miss Mississippi 2014, Jasmine Murray, placed in the top ten during the pageant, and last year, Miss Mississippi 2015, Hannah Roberts, was named first runner-up to the national title.

The Vicksburg Jaycees held the franchise to the Miss Mississippi Pageant until 1994 when Dr. and Mrs. Briggs Hopson and John Wayne Jabour applied and were awarded the contract. The franchise is currently held by the Miss Mississippi Corporation which is comprised of a nine-member board.

This year, Vicksburg will host its 59th crowning, and although a few things may have changed in the nearly six decades of competitions, the annual event is still one locals can be proud to call Vicksburg’s pageant.