What are your hobbies?
shopping; dancing; playing tennis; volunteering for various organizations such as the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the American Lung Association; spending time with family and friends; running; and cooking.

What makes you special and unique?
I am extremely driven and goal-oriented. I always try my best to strive for excellence and to be confident in all that I do. My personality makes me special and unique as well since I am definitely a people person. And last but not least, being a redhead makes me special since there are so few natural redheads in the world. I have been complimented on my hair ever since I can remember and that has always made me feel just a tad bit more special.

What is the best advice you have ever received?
The best advice I have ever received has been to always follow my heart and reach for the stars. I have always been encouraged to try my best no matter what the circumstances may be.

Name one thing you cannot live without.
I absolutely cannot live without my cell phone. It is literally with me at all times and I feel lost when I forget it or the battery goes dead. My communication with others is important to me and my cell phone helps keep that communication intact.

What is the most valuable lesson you ever learned?
The most valuable lesson I have ever learned is to choose my friends wisely. Associations with others are reflections of who one is. Positive influences are so important in today's society and being able to surround oneself with others who share the same values and morals creates a stronger sense of who one is.

Who is your most valued role model and why?
My most valued role model is my mom. She has played a huge role in my life and has supported me in everything I have ever done, no matter how outlandish it may have been. I have always admired my mom for her strong character and sensitive heart and love the fact that I can call her my best friend.

What was your most unexpected moment?
My most unexpected moment was actually winning Miss Delta Blues. Since it was the first preliminary I had ever won, I was almost in a state of shock when crowned. Winning my title proved to me that hard work really does pay off.

What is your workout routine?
My workout routine consists of at least 2 hours of cardio a day and strength/weight training 4-5 times a week. Working out has become part of my daily routine and I honestly cannot imagine not going to the gym now. Dancing is part of my workout routine that I love. Getting back into the dance studio has been such a fun and rewarding experience for me. Also, when the weather permits, I love running outdoors and playing tennis as another form of cardio.

What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
My biggest accomplishment to date was graduating from my high school as Valedictorian. It was a goal I had set for myself upon entering high school and one that I spent countless amounts of time and energy studying in order to reach that goal.

What is the best compliment you have ever received?
The best compliment I have ever received was a person telling me they wanted to be like me because of my air of confidence,sense of style, and ability to smile no matter how bad the situation may be. It meant a lot to me when that person expressed their admiration. Being told that really hits home because it shows how people serve as role models even to the most unsuspecting audience.

What is your secret wish?
My secret wish is that I wish I could have spent more time with my grandmother. My world was shattered when she died since I was only in the 4th grade. She was one of my favorite people and I still treasure every moment I was able to spend with her.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
My most embarrassing moment happened the summer going into my junior year of high school while on family vacation in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I had been stubborn and not eaten breakfast and was not keeping myself hydrated enough while laying out on the beach. I noticed I was not feeling well and attempted to walk back to the hotel, but before I could get to the boardwalk, I passed out due to heat exhaustion and ended up having a wardrobe malfunction with my swimsuit.

What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
My biggest guilty pleasure is shopping. There is not a doubt in my mind that if shopping were an Olympic sport, I would walk away with a gold medal. Shoes are especially my favorite and I can honestly say I have at least 200 pairs. I shop when I feel stressed, when I get bored, or when I think I need to reward myself for even the smallest accomplishment. It's a guilty pleasure that I'm working hard to control so I can have more closet space. Haha!

What is your favorite movie and why?
My favorite movie is Steel Magnolias because it captures the true spirit of friendship and the warmth of family. Steel Magnolias has always been able to make me both laugh and cry. It makes me realize how important it is to live life to the fullest since we are not promised tomorrow and to form lifelong friendships.

What is your favorite color and why?
My favorite color is purple. I am really not sure why but ever since a little girl it has been my favorite. It is such a majestic and mysterious color and makes for a great crayon color!

What do you like to do for fun... relaxation... recreation?
For fun, I like to spend time with my friends. My friends and I are some of the most spontaneous people one could meet. We have fun no matter what we do. Whether it is going to the Library to dance to tunes spun by DJ Mario or taking a road trip with the radio blasting, there is never a dull moment.

For relaxation, I enjoy being absolutely lazy and lounging around my house. If I can stay in my pjs that makes it even better. I may choose to read a book or sleep in as late as I possibly can. I also love spa visits. Pedicures, manicures, and massages are some of my favorite ways to unwind.

For recreation, I like to run and play tennis. And believe it or not, I also like to fish...or cast the line so to say. I refuse to bait my own hook or take the fish off the line, but I do like to attempt fishing.

What would be your dream vacation or destination?
My dream vacation would be take a tour of Europe. I am dying to go to Italy, Ireland, and the Greek Isles.

What do you like best about your hometown?
The thing I like best about my hometown is its rich history. Wesson is such a small town and there are few people that actually know where it is. Back in the 1800s, it was actually the first town to have electricity before cities such as Chicago and it served as one of the largest towns between Jackson and New Orleans. Now Wesson is barely a speck on the map, but its citizens understand and treasure the rich historical background it has.

What do you like best about the state of Mississippi, besides our food & hospitality?
The thing I like best about Mississippi is its warmth and pride. I was born in Mississippi but have also been able to experience living in other states. When I was 9 years old, my family and I lived in California for a year and then moved to Pennsylvania for my dad's job for 6 months. Living in those states did not offer the sense of warmth and comfort as Mississippi. After moving back upon my grandmother's death, I realized that Mississippi is really my home. Despite the many negative ideas other states tend to develop about Mississippi, it has managed to keep its pride and showcase its achievements through accomplishments and honors. There are so many unique characteristics that many are not aware of such as Mississippi being home to well-known celebrities, great SEC sports, and cultural events like the International Ballet. Like our slogan says, Mississippi really does feel like coming home.

What's in your CD player or on your iPod right now?
My iPod has a huge variety of music. I literally listen to EVERYTHING. Right now, I think I have music by pretty much everyone on my iPod. There's the Rolling Stones, Journey, Josh Groban, Gavin DeGraw, George Strait, Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer, Breaking Benjamin, Reba McEntire, Black Lab, Fergie, Snoop Dogg, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Elton John, Joss Stone, Whitesnake, Clint Black, Tim McGraw, Aerosmith, Queen, Sean Kingston, Poison, Colbie Caillat, Three 6 Mafia, Brad Paisley, Billy Idol, Dolly Parton, Lynryd Skynrd, Saliva, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Carrie Underwood, the Plain White T's, Taylor Swift, and Fleetwood Mac just to name a few. I love music and have a deep appreciation of all genres.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
In ten years, I see myself reaching a new level of success in the "real" world. I want to be able to use my biology and psychology degrees to improve humanity by becoming a clinical psychologist or working for the National Institute of Health to further research in critical areas such as cancer, AIDs, and other disorders. I also hope to be happily married and starting a family of my own.

Who am I?
There is so much to know about me. My life is complicated yet thrilling. I have strong morals and value my family and friends. My friends love to tease me about being high-maintainence but tell me they would not have me any other way. I have so many passions and dreams and I really believe the right and left sides of my brain are in a constant battle with other when guiding me on my career path. I have interests in both the scientific and fashion worlds and could see myself as being happy in either. I am full of spunk and spontaneity and have learned that it is better to express my opinions rather than hold them back. Cooking is one of my hidden talents. The more complicated the recipe, the better. As far as food goes, I will try anything once. I am definitely a girly girl and embrace my feminity. I always have to have my toenails painted. Strange, I know, but it is just one of those things.

I love being redheaded. My hair sets me apart from the crowd. My pappaw calls me the "apple of his eye" because I was the only grandchild born with bright red hair. I have a few nicknames. People call me Whit, Whitbit, or Whittles. I truly believe laughter is the best medicine for anything. I try to smile now matter how bad something may be. Though I try my best to not judge others based upon appearance, I believe it is extremely important to exercise a deep sense of self-respect. College football and baseball are some of my favorite sporting events. Though the Rebels have not had the best record lately, it is still fun to be in the stands yelling "Hotty Toddy!"

Something else about me is that I am very independent, almost too independent at times. I enjoy being able to challenge myself and am a take-charge type of person. My stubbornness sometimes shines through when I try to overtake tasks that I know I cannot accomplish without the help of others. I have learned over the years that confidence is one of the most important and attractive attributes a person can possess. Being able to hold one's head high is such a feat in today's society. I try my best to live life to its fullest and am truly blessed to have journeyed this far and have embraced every lesson I was taught along the way.

Tell us about your occupational experience.
Like most girls, my first job was babysitting. I started my first real babysitting job in the 8th grade looking after some rowdy little boys. It has been so fun to watch them grow up over the years. My first so-called real job was waitressing at a bed and breakfast in my hometown. I started my job at Porches Bed and Breakfast when I was 15 years old and worked there for over 2 years. Working at Porches taught me how to interact with others better and allowed me to make connections with all walks of life. I also worked at a small gift store in my hometown where I was able to learn more responsibility and was trusted with multiple venues such as making bank deposits, ordering merchandise, and even opening and closing the store.

I presently work at the South's oldest department store located in Oxford. I have been at Neilson's for almost 4 years and have loved every minute of it. The J.E. Neilson Company has given me opportunities to succeed in the business world. I have been able to develop a new set of friends and have established great community/business relationships. I have gained such a deeper knowledge of business and work ethic as a result of working at Neilson's. Being able to go to market in Atlanta has been one of the highlights of my time at Neilson's. I am extremely lucky to work for such a wonderful place that is full of people who truly care about each other and their endeavors beyond the work environment. The girls I work with are some of my biggest fans and have supported me in all my pageant adventures. For that, I cannot my express my gratitude enough.

Tell us about your platform.
My platform consists of promoting a strong sense of positive self-esteem. Self-esteem is such a large issue in today's society. Everything we do impacts our feelings about ourselves. The underlying problems of self-esteem include poor parental direction and guidance, lack of good role models, literacy (being literate vs. being illiterate), socioeconomic factors (gender, politics, finances, race), physical development, and media influences. I am extremely passionate about my platform because being able to love and accept oneself is crucial in order to live a healthy and happy life. Self-esteem is created at a very young age. Parents are one of the key players in helping their children develop in the people they need to be. Without proper parental direction and guidance, children often lose sight of their goals and tend to succumb to peer pressure which usually leads to making poor choices. The negative impacts of low self-esteem are unnerving. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, suicide, sex, eating disorders, academic failure, and juvenile deliquencies are only part of the poor choices one makes when suffering from low self-esteem. People often turn to alternative source of recognition such as gangs and cults in an effort to build a name for his or herself. Problems with one's inner circle of family and friends tend to arise as a result of low self-esteem. Being both a psychology and biology major, I have become even more adament about promoting high self-esteem. The textbook definitions of many psychological disorders stem from low self-esteem. The media and society all place emphasis on image and stereotype people according to guidelines that are superficial in nature. Celebrities tend to dismiss the fact that they are being placed on a pedestal by young people. The glamour of celebrities attracts young people; however celebrities tend to lose touch with reality when they engage in activities that are often scrutinized as being indecent and immoral.

People do not realize the role they play when examining self-esteem. The old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me," often come to my mind when I am talking about self-esteem. Words do hurt. They sting and hurt others in unimaginable ways. I believe it is much better to build up a person rather than break them down. Self-esteem drives us to reach our goals and take advantage of opportunities. Support and expansion of both mentoring programs and afterschool programs can help provide a resolution to the many problems associated with low self-esteem. More parental involvement is so important, as well. Goal-setting is needed too in order to define one's personal goals and find his or her niche in society. Children need to be surrounded by positive role models and should be educated about the negative effects of stereotypes and how poor self-esteem can cause harm.

It is definitely important to know the difference between confidence and conceit, but one can never have too much positive self-esteem. I cannot stress enough how imperative it is for a person to remain true to who they are. I want people to be able to look at his or herself in a mirror and love the person that is staring back at them. I hope I am able to make more people understand the necessity of having a strong, positive self-esteem and how important it is to know how to overcome the many obstacles that may be faced when taking part in the game we call life.