What are your hobbies?
I like to travel, especially to a beach! I like spas! I like to draw, paint furniture, make costumes, sing, perform, sew, shop (especially for shoes), and read magazines.

What makes you special and unique?
I am an absolute perfectionist. I think it's both positive and negative! On one side of the coin, it really motivates me to pursue everything I do with passion and zeal - and I love that. On the other side of the coin, the sleepless nights rehearsing and "getting it right" aren't too fun. On a lighter note, flowers won't cut it. Just give me some cotton candy.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
"Don't ever stray away from yourself." If you aren't being who you are - you aren't achieving your full potential!

Name one thing you cannot live without.
My planner, of course. What would "Miss Details" do without her schedule?

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
The most valuable lesson in my life has been to never lose sight of who you are, and to always remain true to your passions.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My sister, Laura Lee, inspires me. She has grown up to be quite an impressive young lady. Seeing her putting her soul into singing and pageants reminded me to not lose sight of my own love for dance and performance. She is the reason I'm in Miss Mississippi.

What was your most unexpected moment?
Winning my first pageant! All the girls competing were so impressive and had worked so diligently. It was so incredible I could be on that stage, do what I love, and actually win!

What is your workout routine?
Jogging, light weights, and most importantly dancing. These exercises have become part of a daily routine I couldn't do without.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
In younger years, I was awarded as Mississippi's Best Cheer Leader. The work it took was strenuous, intense, and tiring - not to mention on two fractured ankles. But looking back - it was so much fun!

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
That I had character. This is so important to me because I believe you can be alot of things in life, but if you don't have integrity you won't be much.

What is your secret wish?
A great secret wish for me would be for the day to contain five extra hours of sleep - because I absolutely do not get enough!

What was your most embarrassing moment?
Years ago, I broke my ankle simply jumping on a trampoline in front of an enormous group of people. Once the laughter quieted down - I was shipped to the hospital for x-rays. Needless to say, I'm not showing off my trampoline flipping skills publically anymore.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Cotton candy, without a doubt. Once I catch a glimpse of the fluffy, pink candy - my diet is done for the day.

What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is a romantic drama called "The Holiday." Its plot is simple, straightforward and none too difficult to understand, but it focuses on two of the most important emotions none of us can ever get enough of - LOVE and HAPPINESS.

What is your favorite color and why?
White would be my logical choice. In my mind, it represents purity and a clean slate (which all of us need from time to time!)

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
FUN in my mind is being around those I love - especially my family. No matter where you put us, we will make it fun.

RELAXATION is the Beach. Just a quick though of the sounds of the waves crashing and the sand beneath my toes takes me there.

RECREATION is anything outside, from "attempting" to throw a frisbee with my boyfriend, to playing tennis, to riding bikes. How you feel when you're done is my favorite part!

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
I've never forgotten a trip I took to Maui with my family, and the sheer fun we had. I can't wait to go back to paradise!

What do you like best about your hometown?
You can never get lost in Brookhaven. When I say lost, I don't mean physically! What I mean is, you can never be a stranger because there's always someone around the corner to show you hospitality and to welcome you in!

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
I absolutely, positively love the weather. Long, hot summers are the perfect fit for me. In fact, I think my favorite item of clothing is a swim suit!

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
Probably Imogen Heap. I love her because her music varies from song to song, from soulful bellowing to quick rhythm. This is how I feel about music in general - there aren't many types I'm not attached to.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? I see myself executing my perfectionist side as a nurse practitioner or headed in that direction. I see myself releasing my creative side doing interior design work on the side. It's the best of both worlds!

Who am I?
I've been a little girl, I have been so passionate about dancing. There's something about it...the feel of my feet on the state...the rush of adrenaline on a high powered number...the total focus and pressure on me during a solo. This is an enormous part of who I am.

I'm not one to forget a detail. I don't always get it right, but I sure do just about everything I can to try to! Sometimes I drive myself "crazy" because I'm like this - but when I really think about it, it helps me to pursue both character and excellence, which is so valuable in life.

You will seldom see me without my family and close circle. They are my heart and I'm so blessed to have their positive influence and encouragement. Not to mention - they are so much fun!

Tell us about your occupational experience.
Some of my first experience was doing assistant and odd job work with a management company, so, needless to say, I quickly realized I better work at doing something I love. I began to student teach at our competitive dance studio and also I led private and group cheer lessons. Working can be a blast if it touches a part of your true talent and passions. This was an essential lesson for me to learn!

Tell us about your platform.
All of my life I have been attracted to art and creativity. From painting to woodwork to simply just creating different things, art has been my therapy. I have been fortunate to be in a position now in which I can be a positive role model to others. Having been blessed with a great family and circle of friends, the atmosphere in which I was raised was important. But, I contribute much of who I am and who I have become to art. Its what I love. Its not only where I've gone when sad, been hurt or angry, its also how I express myself. It was a positive and natural environment for me to fill a void that could have easily been filled with negative pressures a teenager and young adult will face. This is what my platform consists of, mentoring youth through the arts. There are many people who are just like me, and I want to encourage others growing up that I found my niche and they can too! My passion was arts, what is yours?