By Emily Williams
When she was seven, Charley Ann Nix entered the Little Miss Batesville Pageant,  but came home crownless.
However, subsequent trips down the runway brought titles like Miss Preteen Sweet Potato Queen, Teen Miss SpringFest, North Delta’s Most Beautiful, Miss Delta Blues, and, most recently, Miss Heritage, a qualifier for Miss Mississippi, the premium pageant in a state that loves pageants.

This week Charley Ann, 19, is in Vicksburg where parades and autograph parties accompany the four days of competitions before the new Miss Mississippi is crowned Saturday night at the Convention Center. Preliminaries started Wednesday for the field of 44 contestants.

Family and friends who’ve supported her from the start have all traveled to Vicksburg for the week.
“The wagon’s full,” Charley Ann laughed when speaking of aunts, cousins, nieces and grandmothers who are there to see her compete.

“Everyone wants to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down,” she said, quoting Oprah Winfrey.

“First timers never win. It’s normal to compete three or four times before winning. It’s definitely a learning experience.”

The winner Saturday night will represent Mississippi in the Miss America pageant September 11 in Atlantic City.
“If you win, you serve the state of Mississippi. Behind the scenes there is so much work,” Charley Ann said.
The pageant is “real competitive” and no family or friends are allowed to be with Charley Ann since she checked in at the pageant earlier this week.

In addition to the aforementioned parade and autograph parties, contestants are busy with rehearsals for two song-and-dance production numbers and polishing up their talent presentations.

Charley Ann will play William Joseph’s “Piano Fantasy.”

She’s been practicing this summer on the baby grand at Batesville Presbyterian Church. Talent competition continues tonight.

Preparing for the pageant has also required the acquisition of four formal dresses, nine cocktail dresses, a swimsuit, and a mountain of shoes.

“You know you have one shot. You have to be regal and get your mind set,” she said.

In the interview portion, contestants will answer one question on stage, and this question will relate to current events.

In addition, contestants have the opportunity to develop a “platform” to promote, a cause or organization they feel passion about.

Charley Ann has initiated  “Capes and Crowns,”  a bullying prevention program.

She has spoken with young students at Batesville Elementary and other schools, focusing on bullying prevention.

Already Charley Ann has won scholarships through the Miss Mississippi pageant system. She attends Ole Miss where she is majoring in biochemistry/pre-pharmacy, with the goal of becoming a pediatric oncology pharmacist. She is the recipient of Luckyday and Provost scholarships.

A volunteer with the Batesville Junior Women’s League, she’s come full circle,  now assisting and mentoring the young contestants in the club’s fundraiser, the Little Miss Batesville Pageant.

“One thing that (the Miss Mississippi) organization has taught me is to always be myself and get out of my comfort zone. I became involved when I was just 15 years old as an Outstanding Teen (the teen pageant program associated with Miss America), and by pushing myself to get out of my comfort zone and being my true self I made tons of friends that I still stay in contact with today,” she said.

Charley Ann is the daughter of Margaret Nix and Chuck Nix. She is the granddaughter of Mrs. Pat Nix and Mrs. Lesa Alford.

Streaming information can be found by visiting http://missmississippipageant.com.