Miss Hospitality headed for Hattiesburg

Cheryl Owens/News Editor
The Newton Record

NEWTON July 23, 2008 04:26 pm

— Ashley Nicholson, Newton County’s Miss Hospitality has been working very hard to prepare herself for the upcoming Miss Hospitality Pageant to be held at the Saenger Theatre in downtown Hattiesburg, August 1 and August 2 at 8 p.m.
The theme of this year’s pageant is Broadway and will feature several production numbers from musicals, including The Phantom of the Opera, Dream Girls and Hairspray.
“To prepare myself I had to write a twenty second commercial about my home county and a speech about Mississippi which I will be presenting on stage,” Nicholson said. “Friday night is preliminary night and we will do a physical fitness dance with a parade of all 38 contestants.”
Nicholson’s song of Newton County will be sung acappella to the tune of ‘Hokey Pokey’ and her speech is entitled ‘Magical Mississippi’.
“If I win I think I can contribute to Mississippi by my research and knowledge of Mississippi History,” Nicholson said. In my speech I will be talking about the past, present and looking into the future,” Nicholson said. “I think I can attract businessess to Mississippi by my personality and knowledge of the state. I think it will be very exciting to see Mississippi grow.”
Nicholson’s platform is Community Involvement in Education which she chose because she said it was important to her since she teaches first grade at Newton County Elementary.
“I try to invite different people in various jobs and positions to my classroom to educate my students on what goes on in our world and society,” Nicholson said. “I think it is very important the community gets involved in the education of our students.”
Nicholson said if she wins she is prepared to take a leave of absence from her teaching.
“A good teacher never stops learning,” Nicholson said. “If I win it will be a good learning experience to take back and share with my students about the places I have been and things I have learned.”
Pageant Coordinator Donna Pace said she has been coaching Nicholson since May and has seen her come full circle since winning the hometown pageant.
“She has improved in her interview skills, state presence and carries herself very well,” Pace said. “Ashley is one of the most genuine Christian girls with very high morals and standards. Everyone in Newton County should be privileged to have her representing Newton County in Hattiesburg.”
Pace said she hopes everyone that can will come and see Ashley compete and if you can’t to send her cards and letters during her week in Hattiesburg.
“I would like to thank all my friends and family and the support they have given me,” Nicholson said. “I have friends that walk with me everyday no matter what. I would also like to thank my pageant coordinators Donna Pace and Cyndha Robinson Myrick for all their help and encouragement.”
If Ashley is crowned Miss Hospitality she will receive more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes which she said she will use to get her masters in education and become national board certified.
Ashley is the daughter of Kary and Brenda Nicholson of Chunky and they attend Chunky Baptist Church.
You can send cards to Ashley Nicholson, Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality, Resident’s LIfe, McCarty Hall, 118 College Drive 5064, Hattiesburg MS. 39406. Tickets are on sale at the Saenger Theatre box officer at 601-584-4888 or online at www.MissHospitality.com.

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