Abney Grace Pittman of Wayne County was crowned the 2023 Mississippi Miss Hospitality Saturday evening at the Historic Saenger Theater in Downtown Hattiesburg. With 41 contestants competing for the title, Pittman was selected following the week of competition, which included one-on-one and panel interviews, speeches, on-stage interviews, and an evening gown component.
Selected as the 74th Mississippi Miss Hospitality, the winner serves as a goodwill ambassador for economic development and tourism during her reign. Pittman will participate in numerous events throughout the state that highlight Mississippi’s tourism attractions and industries.
“I am so honored to have this job for the next year. I’m looking forward to sharing Mississippi’s story and many positive qualities every chance I get,” Pittman said. “Mississippi, I am here and ready to serve you.”
Pittman is a sophomore at the University of Mississippi, where she is obtaining a degree in communication sciences and disorders with a minor in gerontology and marketing. She plans to attend graduate school for speech/language pathology. Prior to Ole Miss, Pittman attended Jones College, where she was a part of the Bobcat Brigade recruiting team. A member of Kappa Delta sorority, she is the daughter of Ricky and Amy Pittman and Sandy Pittman.
Mississippi Miss Hospitality’s top five contestants were:
Abney Grace Pittman, Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2023
Loren Wade, Petal, 1st Alternate
Maddie Grace Lightsey, Hattiesburg, 2nd Alternate
Gabby Bell, Pontotoc County, 3rd Alternate
Gracie Bassett, Madison County, 4th Alternate
Mississippi Miss Hospitality program works with local directors, contestants, and sponsors throughout the year to present the weeklong competition in Hattiesburg. In addition to competing and rehearsing, contestants participate in service projects and city tours, along with team building and leadership activities.
“Mississippi Miss Hospitality travels throughout the state and country to share tourism assets, business advantages, culture, and goodwill to organizations and leaders during her reign,” Kristen Brock, program director, said. “Abney Grace is joining a network of successful, supportive women who come before her in this role, working to promote Mississippi as the state’s official goodwill ambassador.”
Serving alongside Pittman at official events and appearances will be Swayze Joiner as Mississippi’s Little Miss Hospitality. Each local titleholder selects a Little Miss to mentor throughout their year-long reign and to be with them during competition week. Joiner is six years old and is the daughter of Clarke and Gentry Joiner of Wayne County.
Additionally, a number of other scholarships and awards were given out during competition.
The top three Mississippi speech winners awarded the Jay Slaughter Memorial Scholarship for their 90-second speeches creatively showcasing the state’s history, tourism resources, and business assets. Winners were Greene County, Dasani Hill; Mendenhall, Jaymee Smith; and Pike County, Jerica Brown.
The 41 contestants were provided a social media challenge starting two months before competition week that highlighted their hometowns, the program’s sponsors, and more. This year’s social media scholarship winner, which is awarded by the Mississippi Tourism Association, is Kate Fletcher of Jones County.
Nominated and voted on by her peers, the program awards one young woman the Lake Little Spirit of Hospitality Award for her supportive, welcoming, and kind behavior throughout competition week. The annual award is named in memory of Lake Little of Starkville, who passed away before competition in 2019. The 2023 winner of the Lake Little Spirit of Miss Hospitality award is Jalyssiah Ott of Meridian.
The program awards one young woman a top ad sales scholarship for generating the most community support for the State Competition. The 2023 winner is Peyton Cocroft of Covington County, whose Little Miss Hospitality also sold ads.
The Southern Miss Image Center provides a scholarship for the Most Photogenic contestant each year. Nya Nobles, Clarke County, was selected as the 2023 recipient.
During the Farewell Brunch for contestants, their families, and local directors on Saturday morning, another annual honor was given. The 2023 Volunteer of the Year was Neshoba County’s local director Laura Bailey, who consistently pours into the local titleholder and Little Miss through public events and mentoring.
For more information or to request Mississippi Miss Hospitality at an event, visit misshospitality.com or the program’s Facebook page.
For more information, visit misshospitality.com. Keep up with Pittman’s year-long reign on the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition Facebook and Instagram.
Photo from Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition Facebook page
