General Contestant Requirements
- Must be a resident of Mississippi.
- Must represent her hometown and/or county, not the city where she attends college.
- Must attend the entirety of State Competition, July 12-18, 2026.
- Must be a high school graduate who attends or plans to attend college.
- Must be between the ages of 18 and 24 by the first day of judging, which begins on Wednesday of competition week.
- Must have never been married or have children.
- Must be in good health.
- Must not hold or pursue a competing title from the date she is crowned as a local Miss Hospitality through the conclusion of the State Competition or the end of her reign if crowned Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality.
- Must have a minimum 2.5 scholastic average (on a 4.0 system) and arrange a class schedule to be no more than 15 hours per semester if crowned the state title holder. Current transcript must be provided.
- May participate on the state level a maximum of two times, with a mandatory 1-year minimum of no participation following her first competition.
Qualities
Judging is based on the following criteria: the person selected must be intelligent, articulate, photogenic, aggressive without being forward or self-centered, dignified and attractive; have a friendly spirit that is natural and spontaneous; be in good health; be gracious and sincere; and possess a general knowledge of state tourist attractions, history, and economic development. Special talents are not required, but accomplishments in public speaking and communication are of primary importance.
State Competition Requirements
- Local contestants chosen to represent their communities must attend a contestant workshop in Saturday, May 30, 2026 in Hattiesburg. Staggered arrival times will be assigned, and official headshots will be taken during this event. In the case of a conflict, contact the State Office immediately. Contestants must also attend the entirety of competition in Hattiesburg July 12-18, 2026. Housing, transportation, and an exciting lineup of events will be provided.
- Each contestant must submit her Official Competition Packet including a complete application, medical release form, official transcript, 50-word typed biography, and ad sales and components along with registration fee of $350 by April 23, 2026. A $50 late fee will be charged for packets sent after this date.
- Contestants must sell a minimum of four (4) full pages of advertising at $350 per page in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program Book.
- If a contestant currently attends or is enrolled in an out-of-state college or university and wins the State Competition, she must immediately enroll in a college or university in Mississippi. A full one-year scholarship will be provided.
- Contestants will complete their own hair and make-up at the State Competition. There will be no one allowed in the residence hall or backstage before competition.
- Contestants must appoint a Little Miss Hospitality to serve alongside her during her reign and provide the Little Miss’ information to the State Office by March 13, 2026.
Deadlines
- March 2, 2026 – Local Miss Hospitality contestants must be selected by this date. Local Directors are to submit a contestant commitment form to the State Office within one week of selection. Contestants will not receive information regarding the State Competition until their information has been given to the State Office.
- March 13, 2026 – Contestants must submit Little Miss Hospitality’s information to the State Office by this date.
- April 23, 2026 – The deadline for all contestant materials to be received by the State Office. THIS DEADLINE WILL BE ENFORCED. A $50 late fee will be charged to the contestant if all materials are not sent by this deadline. This deadline includes the $350 registration fee, which may be sponsored by a group, organization, or individual.