Ghanaian-Born Is New Miss Southern

MI, USA -- Four years of competing in the Miss Southern Pageant proved to be the charm for Natasha Casely-Hayford, who was crowned the winner at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on the University of Southern Mississippi campus Saturday night. "I'm really excited right now and am looking forward to competing in the Miss Mississippi competition and to talk to people about my platform," said Casely-Hayford, 21, of West Point. She will graduate in May with a degree in dance performance.

First runner-up was JoAnna Gatson of Mendenhall.

Casely-Hayford, who was born in Ghana, West Africa, moved to West Point in 1987. She won the physical fitness portion of the competition. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and a Dixie Darling. Her platform is public awareness of the arts.

"I really want to go out to the public to show them the importance the arts have on their personal growth and development," she said. "I want to visit with as many people, young and old, as I can and share with them my platform."

Casely-Hayford's parents, Anna and Bennie Jones of West Point, said their daughter has been a performer since she was very young.

"The stage has been a second nature to her," Anna Jones said. "And as a little girl, she always watched the pageants and hoped she would be able to participate in one. We are so excited and are looking forward to the state competition."

If she wins the Miss Mississippi pageant this summer, she would represent the state in the Miss America competition in September in Atlantic City, N.J.

The Miss Southern Pageant, in its 56th year, is sponsored by the USM Student Government Association and is completely produced by USM students.