HATTIESBURG, MISS. (MAY 30, 2026) – As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program is joining the celebration in a big way with the largest scholarship offerings in the organization’s 77-year history.
Program leaders announced Saturday that contestants competing for the title of Mississippi Miss Hospitality in 2026 will be eligible for more than $105,000 in scholarships and prizes, including a record $32,500 in direct cash scholarships.
The 2026 competition theme will celebrate America’s 250th anniversary while showcasing the spirit of hospitality, patriotism, leadership and hometown pride that has defined the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program for generations.
The winner of the 2026 Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship, an increase from $8,000, along with tuition scholarships, travel opportunities and a total prize package valued at approximately $27,000.
“This is an exciting year for our program and for our country,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director of Visit Hattiesburg. “As America celebrates 250 years of history and service, we are proud to celebrate the next generation of young women who represent Mississippi with leadership, confidence, grace and hospitality.”
The scholarship increase comes as the program continues its longstanding mission of supporting young women pursuing higher education while preparing them for leadership roles in tourism, business, communications and community development.
During Saturday’s announcement, the Advisory Board of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program also revealed that the winner’s cash scholarship will now be named in honor of Bonnie Warren, recognizing her decades of service and leadership within the program and Mississippi’s tourism industry.
Warren played an instrumental role in bringing the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program from Starkville to Hattiesburg in 1998 and has remained one of the organization’s strongest advocates. A charter member of the Hattiesburg Tourism Commission, Warren has spent decades supporting tourism, hospitality and economic development efforts across Mississippi.
“Mrs. Warren’s unwavering dedication to the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program, and the thousands of young women whose lives have been impacted by it, has helped shape the program into the treasured tradition it is today,” Dorsey said. “Naming this award in her honor is a fitting tribute to her legacy of leadership, service and heartfelt commitment to hospitality.”
Warren said the recognition is especially meaningful because of the program’s impact on generations of young women.
“It is truly humbling to receive this honor from a program that has meant so much to me for so many years,” Warren said. “The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition has always represented far more than a title. It represents leadership, service, hospitality and a genuine love for our state.”
“Watching generations of young women grow through this experience has been one of the greatest joys of my life,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to have been a small part of its history and future.”
Founded in 1949, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program is one of the state’s premier scholarship and leadership programs for young women and serves as Mississippi’s official hospitality ambassador initiative.
The 2026 Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition will take place July 17-18 in Hattiesburg. Competition tickets will go on sale to the public in two weeks, and organizers said the annual event regularly sells out.
Cash scholarship awards for alternates will also increase in 2026:
- First alternate: $6,000
- Second alternate: $3,500
- Third alternate: $2,500
- Fourth alternate: $2,000
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About the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Program:
Presented by the Hattiesburg Tourism Commission (VisitHATTIESBURG), the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program brings together the best and brightest young women to annually compete for the state title. Contestants must be young women between the ages of 18 and 24, enrolled in college, and represent their hometown. The program supports more than $105,000 in college and university scholarships. The winner serves a full year as the state’s goodwill ambassador for tourism and economic development by traveling and promoting Mississippi’s assets to visitors and industries. The Mississippi Miss Hospitality tradition began in 1949 under Gov. Fielding Wright and the Mississippi Legislature.
About Bonnie Warren:
An alumna of The University of Southern Mississippi, Warren was a campus leader during her time at Southern Miss, serving as Homecoming Queen, Miss University of Southern Mississippi, captain of the Dixie Darlings and student body secretary. She was later inducted into the University of Southern Mississippi Hall of Fame and the university’s Greek Hall of Fame.
Her leadership and service have extended far beyond tourism. Warren has served in leadership roles with numerous civic and nonprofit organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, United Way, YMCA and Boys and Girls Club. She also served as national president of Kappa Delta Sorority and national chairman of the Kappa Delta Foundation.