Mississippi
Outlook: Miss Mississippi, Miss Mississippi Teen take off for Orlando – The Vicksburg Post
Outlook: Miss Mississippi, Miss Mississippi Teen take off for Orlando
Published 9:43 pm Saturday, January 6, 2024
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The time has finally arrived. After months of anticipation, Miss Mississippi Vivian O’Neal and Miss Mississippi’s Teen Nataleigh Nix boarded a plane Saturday heading to Orlando, Fla. where they will compete for the title of 2024 Miss America and 2024 Miss America’s Teen, respectively.
The competitions will take place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts with Miss America Teen being crowned Sat., Jan 13. The new Miss America will be crowned, Sun., Jan. 14.
Prior to the crownings, delegates vying for both the Miss America Teen title and Miss America title will have a personal interview with judges, followed by preliminary competitions showcasing talent, fitness, and eveningwear for their respective competitions.
Nix, who was crowned Miss Mississippi’s Teen in April, said she has been preparing for all phases of the competition.
“For interview and onstage questions, I have had a mental management coach and countless mock interviews,” she said. “For fitness and evening wear, I’ve practiced walking patterns and adopted a #MissAmericaFit mentality and for talent I have had voice lessons to practice and improve my song.”
Like all delegates competing for the national title, Nix did not reveal what she will be singing, but during the Miss Mississippi Teen Competition, she sang “Never Enough” from the movie-musical “The Greatest Showman” from which she was recognized as a preliminary talent winner.
In addition to preparing for the Miss America Teen Competition, Nix said, she has traveled the state implementing her Community Service Initiative AOK – Acts Of Kindness, completed pulling together her wardrobe, created social media content and attended appearance and sponsor visits.
O’Neal was crowned Miss Mississippi in June and looks at being an ambassador for the Magnolia State as part of preparation for the national title.
“Truthfully, my life is preparation for Miss America,” O’Neal said. “Traveling, public speaking, representing and recruiting for the state organization, and working with my nonprofit organization are all things I do in my day-to-day life, but they also cultivate skills that I use as a competitor and hopefully, Miss America 2024,” she said.
O’Neal said she has had the privilege of visiting places like Stennis Space Center, Keesler Air Force Base, Camp Shelby and the Nissan plant – all of which have deepened her knowledge of the state.
“I learned so much about the nationwide and even worldwide impact that our state and its people have,” she said. “And I have been very intentional about using my social media as a way to showcase the diversity within the state of Mississippi.
During her reign, O’Neal said she has also focused on letting people see what really goes on behind the crown.
“One of the best compliments I have received this year is that I’m the same in person as I am on television and social media. My goal through social media is to showcase what real life looks like as a state titleholder,” she said. “I think that there is such a misconception that Miss Mississippi is supposed to be this image of ‘perfection’ and I knew going into the state competition that if I won, authenticity would be at the forefront.”
Preliminary competitions for Miss America will take place Wed., Jan. 10, and Thurs., Jan. 11, and like Nix, O’Neal was not at liberty to discuss the particulars about the talent or evening wear phase of the competition. However, she did say, “For my evening gown, it’s a color I’ve worn before but not in a very long time. And for talent, I will be dancing and I’m confident it will make the audience want to get up and dance with me,” she said.
Both O’Neal and Nix said they look forward to competing on the national level.
“I am most looking forward to the memories and friendships I will make and that I will remember for the rest of my life,” Nix said.
“I watched Miss America every single year growing up,” O’Neal said. “So, for me, the thing I’m looking forward to the most is finally getting to be part of that history in such a big way. Miss America and Miss Mississippi specifically have always been iconic figures both publicly and in my personal life, so I feel very honored to represent an organization with such a rich legacy.”
Schedule for the Miss America Teen Competition
Sunday, Jan. 7 – Private interview
Tuesday, 7 p.m. Jan. 9 – Miss America’s Teen preliminary competition
Thursday, 4 p.m. Jan. 11 – Miss America’s Got Talent teen competition (preliminary talent phase of the competition)
Saturday, 7 p.m. Jan. 13 – Miss America’s Teen Finals
Schedule for the Miss America Competition
Sunday, Jan. 7 – Private interview
Wednesday, 7 p.m. Jan. 10 – Miss America Preliminary competition
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.’
More by Terri Cowart
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In the Jackson area, four restaurants and food service facilities received failing health inspection grades in December 2025, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.
As of Jan. 5, three of the four facilities have conducted follow-up inspections and rectified the failing grade.
Below are the restaurants and food-service facilities in District V, which includes Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties, that received a failing grade of “C.”
Hinds County
- Powell Middle School, temporarily housed in the former Brinkley Middle School located at 3535 Albemarle Road in Jackson, received a failing grade during a scheduled inspection on Dec. 10. In 2023, Brinkley Middle School was consolidated into Lanier High School. Powell Middle School then moved into the former Brinkley building while the school is being renovated. The inspection notes a lack of a certified manager and inadequate hand-washing facilities. The grade was rectified in a follow-up inspection on Dec. 17. Brinkley Middle School previously received one other failing grade in 2021, which was rectified in a follow-up inspection.
- Oak Forest Elementary School, located at 1831 Smallwood St. in Jackson, received a failing grade during a scheduled inspection on Dec. 8. The inspection notes inadequate hand-washing facilities and improperly washed hands. As of Jan. 5, Oak Forest Elementary has not conducted a follow-up inspection. The school previously received one other failing grade in 2024, which was rectified during a follow-up inspection.
Madison County
- Penn’s Fish House, located at 1859 Main St. in Madison, received a failing grade during an inspection following a complaint on Nov. 18. The restaurant then failed the corrective follow-up on Dec. 1. Penn’s rectified the grade during a second follow-up inspection on Dec. 15. The Nov. 18 inspection notes several violations, including a lack of a certified manager and inadequate hand-washing facilities. The notes also cite violations in food storage and preparation, including unclean food-contact surfaces and improper holding temperatures. By Dec. 1, the restaurant had corrected most of the violations, but still had unclean food contact surfaces, according to the inspection notes. This Penn’s location previously received two failing grades in 2013 and 2021, both of which were rectified during follow-up inspections.
Rankin County
- Golden Corral, located at 988 Top St. in Flowood, received a failing grade during an inspection following a complaint on Dec. 12. The inspection notes several violations, including inadequate hand-washing facilities, unclean food contact surfaces and improper food-holding temperatures, date marking and disposition. The restaurant rectified the grade during a follow-up inspection on Dec. 17. In November 2025, this Golden Corral location received a failing grade for several of the same violations listed in the Dec. 12 inspection. The restaurant rectified the November failing grade during a follow-up inspection on Nov. 14. This Golden Corral location previously received a failing grade in 2023, which was then corrected in a follow-up inspection.
Health inspection grading system
The MSDH grades health inspections on an A, B and C scale, with C considered a failing grade.
The MSDH website states the following regarding the grading scale:
- A rating: “The facility inspection found no critical violations. Critical violations of the state Food Code are those more likely to lead to food contamination, illness, or other health risk.”
- B rating: “Critical violations were found, but corrected under the supervision of the inspecting environmentalist. No further corrective actions are required.”
- C rating: “Critical violations were found, but some or all were not corrected during the inspection. The facility will be re-inspected, and all violations must be corrected in a time period not to exceed 10 days. The re-inspection date is posted on the graded report. If violations are not corrected in the specified time, steps are taken to suspend the facility’s permit to operate. A grade of C is also given if critical violations are repeated from the last inspection, even if they were corrected at that time.”
Got a news tip? Contact Mary Boyte at mboyte@jackson.gannett.com
BILOXI, Miss. (WLOX) – Mississippi lawmakers will address school choice legislation, PERS reform, and Gulf Coast Restoration Fund distribution when the legislative session begins Tuesday, according to political analyst Frank Corder with the Magnolia Tribune.
School choice
Corder said school choice will likely be the first major issue addressed, with House Speaker Jason White making it one of his main agenda items this session.
School choice policies would let families use public funds to enroll their children in schools outside their assigned local option, including private schools.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if the first week or two, we don’t see a bill dropped and by the end of January, there’s some kind of action on that bill,” said Corder.
The Senate will likely take a more measured approach to school choice legislation, Corder said. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann has said he supports opening up public-to-public transfers but not necessarily allowing money to follow students from public to private schools.
ALSO READ: Lt. Gov. targets chronic absenteeism, supports limited school choice options
Corder expects Mississippi will pass some form of public-to-public transfer system that allows parents to choose schools outside their assigned district, though he is uncertain whether universal school choice will advance this session.
Gulf Coast Restoration Fund
This session, lawmakers will look at how Gulf Coast Restoration Funds are distributed, Corder said. The fund operates as an advisory body that makes recommendations to the Mississippi Development Authority, which then sends proposals to lawmakers for funding decisions.
Corder said Coast lawmakers have typically been unified in their requests, but when they are not, funding has lagged.
“I do expect them to maybe revamp how things are done this time. If it doesn’t happen, I’ll be surprised,” he said.
ALSO READ: 16 projects recommended for Gulf Coast Restoration Funds
Corder believes focus will shift toward larger, coastwide projects spanning from Jackson County to Hancock County, including infrastructure improvements and coastal restoration projects.
PERS reform
The Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) will also likely receive attention this session.
Corder said lawmakers could consider changes to Tier 5 that would reduce the 35-year work requirement for law enforcement officers and firefighters before retirement.
In March 2025, the state legislature passed House Bill 1, which changed PERS to require 35 years of service for full retirement benefits, regardless of age, starting March 1, 2026.
ALSO READ: Mississippi first responders unite to propose separate state retirement tier
Corder believes lawmakers will also consider injecting resources into PERS to improve its financial stability.
Vote 2026
Corder also weighed in on the midterm elections happening this year. Last week, candidates filed paperwork to qualify.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith will face a Republican primary challenge from Sarah Adlakha of the Gulf Coast. Corder said Hyde-Smith has advantages as the incumbent with an established “campaign war chest,” while Adlakha appears to be self-financing her campaign.
ALSO READ: MS candidates file for federal election qualification
In the 4th Congressional District, Rep. Mike Ezell faces challenges from Republican Sawyer Walters. On the Democratic side, State Rep. Jeffery Hulum and two others are running along with one Independent.
“That could be an interesting race to watch,” said Corder.
Rep. Bennie Thompson also has a Democratic challenger, Evan Turnage, who previously served as chief counsel for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Congressional primaries are scheduled for Tuesday, March 10.
See a spelling or grammar error in this story? Report it to our team HERE.
Copyright 2025 WLOX. All rights reserved.
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