Featured Story
Published 12:00 am Monday, July 30, 2012
Chandler Llana models the evening gown she’ll wear in the Miss Hospitality pageant Saturday night.
Chandler Llana selected in Hattiesburg to represent state
“My whole family has lived in Mississippi,” she said “My mother brought us here because to raise us in the place where she grew up and with the same morals she grew up with,” Llana told the audience in Hattiesburg’s Saenger Theater.
Llana is the state’s 63 Miss Hospitality. The program selects a goodwill ambassador for tourism and economic development in Mississippi.
Llana is the third state Miss Hospitality selected from Panola County. Ann Kitchens and Fisher Fleming held the title in 1965 and 1995, respectively.
With Llana’s ascension to represent the state, Panola County Miss Hospitality first alternate Madison Greenlee becomes Panola’s Miss Hospitality.)
By Rita Howell
Chandler Llana didn’t have to look far for a role model as she prepared to represent Panola County in this week’s Miss Hospitality pageant in Hattiesburg. Her mom, Pam, was Batesville’s Miss Hospitality in 1980. (See Blast from the Page, page A6.)
Back then the pageant was held in Biloxi and sponsored by the state. It’s now hosted by the City of Hattiesburg and the University of Southern Mississippi. The purpose remains to select an ambassador to promote Mississippi tourism and economic development.
So the dark-haired beauty, crowned Panola’s Miss Hospitality in March, has been researching the state’s industries and tourist destinations, preparing to answer questions judges might ask about those topics.
Her pick for a top tourist spot?
“I’ll make sure I mention Ole Miss,” she said. “It’s the nation’s number one tailgating spot.”
Chandler is a junior at the University of Mississippi, where she’s enrolled in the Honors College and belongs to Kappa Delta sorority, again following in her mom’s footsteps. She’s a biology major and plans to enter dental school. She’s been on the Chancellor’s List every semester and admits to being bookish. But much of her spare time is spent in volunteer work with her sorority. She’s worked with the Oxford animal shelter, nursing home, toy drives and Girl Scouts. Her sorority’s philanthropy is child abuse prevention, and she’s helped raise funds for the Exchange Club Family Center in Oxford.
Chandler likes reading — and re-reading — fiction.
“I’ve read all the Harry Potter books 10 times each,” she laughed. She listed “The Hunger Games” and “The Lucky One,” by Nicholas Sparks, as current favorites.
She also likes cooking and especially enjoys preparing food for football season…whether the tailgate is in the Grove or in her livingroom during the Super Bowl.
“I made this Buffalo Chicken Dip and it was the hit of the Super Bowl party,” she said.
Pageant week
Chandler has been in Hattiesburg all week, rehearsing production numbers with the 34 other contestants, meeting with judges, and touring Hattiesburg.
Her cheering section tonight and tomorrow night in Saenger Theater will include her mom, her sister, Shaffer, along with Chuck and Kay Johnson (her uncle and aunt), her cousin Matt Johnson, and her boyfriend Chance Crites and his mom, Vicki.
Chandler usually has her own personal hairdresser and makeup artist: Shaffer, age 15. Unfortunately, no extra helpers will be allowed backstage this weekend.
See the Website www.MissHospitality.com for more information.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
8 oz, cream cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 cup hot sauce
1 rotisserie chicken shredded
(or 1 lb. chicken breast)
1 cup crumbled bleu cheese
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In medium saucepan over moderate heat melt cream cheese until smooth. Add celery, hot sauce and chicken and mix really well.
Transfer to dish, sprinkle with bleu cheese and bake 20 minutes. Serve with crackers.
