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First alternate Charity Lockridge performs her talent at the 2022 Miss Mississippi Competition.(Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

The Top 10 finalists take center stage in the final evening of the 2022 Miss Mississippi Competition at the Vicksburg Convention Center in Vicksburg, MS on Saturday, June 25 2022. (Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

Miss Mississippi 2022 Emmie Perkins is crowned by outgoing Miss Mississippi Holly Brand. (Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

First alternate Charity Lockridge kisses Miss Mississippi Emmie Perkins in the moments after Perkins' name was announced. Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

Miss Mississippi 2022 Emmie Perkins of Hattiesburg poses with Executive Director of Miss Mississippi after Perkins’ crowning in Vicksburg, MS on Saturday, June 25 2022. Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

Photo by Sarah Warnock for The Vicksburg Post)

The winner of the 2022 Miss Mississippi Competition and recipient of a $10,000 scholarship provided by Ameristar Casino and Hotel is Miss Mississippi State University, Emmie Perkins.

Perkins, a Hattiesburg native, said she was “in shock, in such a good way” immediately following her win. The reason, she said, was that she now has the opportunity to further her social impact initiative, Music is Medicine, throughout the state.

“(Music is Medicine) brings music to hospitals, nursing homes and school districts across the state,” she said. “I want to, first-hand, visit 82 schools in Mississippi, one in every county, all the assisted living facilities I can and create hubs on college campuses so they can do the same.”

Next on her journey as Miss Mississippi will be competing in the Miss America Competition. It’s something Perkins said she’s already looking forward to.

“I’m ready to hit the ground running,” she said. “The first thing I thought after all the emotions slipped away was, ‘I’ve got to start tomorrow. I’ve got a list of goals and I’m ready to far exceed them so I can head to Miss America and give my all — show people what Mississippi is all about and what Mississippi represents.”

The first alternate to Miss Mississippi and recipient of a $7,500 scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corporation is Miss Leaf River Valley, Vicksburg native Charity Lockridge.

The second alternate and recipient of a $4,000 scholarship provided by David and Katherine McRae and a $1,000 scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corporation is Miss Hattiesburg, Vivian O’Neal.

The third alternate and recipient of a $2,500 scholarship provided by Rusty’s Riverfront Grill and a $500 scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corporation is Miss Gulf Coast, Katelyn Perry.

The fourth alternate and recipient of a $1,500 scholarship provided by Mutual Credit Union and a $1,000 scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corporation is Miss All-American City, Kaylin Costello.

The five remaining semi-finalists were each recipient of a $2,000 scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corporation. Their names are: Miss Pine Belt McKay Lee Bray, Miss Greenville Angel Gail Lang, Miss Deep South Ally Hopper, Miss University Abigail Church and Miss Jones County Karsyn Ulmer.

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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