Miss Dixie Laura Lee Lewis was crowned 2016 Miss Mississippi Saturday night at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

“It feels surreal, Lewis said, after winning the title.

“God was on the stage tonight, and he was carrying me through. I am just so blessed and honored to represent Mississippi. What a great state to represent,” she said.

Lewis, who was also crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2009, was also named second runner-up to Miss Mississippi in 2013, first runner-up in 2014 and second runner-up again in 2015.

“They say third time is the charm, but I guess in my case it’s the fourth.”

Winning the title of Miss Mississippi is just the beginning, Lewis said. The 23-year-old Brookhaven native already has her eye on the bigger crown.

“We are going to Miss America. We are going to Atlantic City and bring home the Miss America crown. It is time to bring it home; back to where it belongs, so it is my mission to not only represent Mississippi well at Miss America, but to make an impact on our nation by telling people they’re valued and loved in a time when we really need it most,” Lewis said.

For the talent phase of the competition, Lewis performed a vocal arrangement of Barbara Streisand’s “A Piece of Sky.”

Along with the Miss Mississippi title and crown, Lewis receives a $10,000 scholarship.

Saturday night’s top 10 contestants competed in the final round of competition 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 Turtle Creek Anne Elizabeth Buys of Vicksburg was named first runner up and was awarded a $7,500 scholarship; Miss Amory Molly May of Houston was second and was awarded $5,000; Miss Tombigbee Holly Harrington of Tupelo was third and was awarded $2,500; and Miss Deep River Mia Hall of Meridian was fourth and was awarded a $2,500 scholarship.

Rounding out the top 10 were Miss Pearl River Brooke Bullok, Miss University Carol Coker, Miss Tupelo Alivia Paden Roberts, Miss Leaf River Valley Ivey Swan and Miss Riverland Michaela Moore.

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.