HATTIESBURG, Miss. (July 18, 2026) — Landry Kent of New Albany was crowned the 2026 Mississippi Miss Hospitality Saturday evening at the Historic Saenger Theater in Hattiesburg. With 43 contestants competing for the title, Kent was selected following the weeklong competition, which included one-on-one and panel interviews, speeches, on-stage interviews, and an evening gown component.
Selected as the 77th Mississippi Miss Hospitality, Kent will serve as the state’s goodwill ambassador for economic development and tourism during her reign. Throughout the year, she will participate in numerous events around the state that highlight Mississippi’s tourism attractions and industries. Kent’s prize package is valued at more than $30,000, and she is the inaugural recipient of the Bonnie Warren Hospitality Scholarship, a $10,000 cash prize toward her college education.
“It has been an honor to represent my hometown, the city of New Albany, this week. I’m so excited and blessed to be able to represent the state of Mississippi this year. I can’t wait,” said Kent.
A freshman at Itawamba Community College, Kent plans to attend Mississippi State University to pursue a communications degree with an emphasis in public relations. An honors student and president of ICC Indian Delegates, she hosts the ICC Athletics’ “What a Play Wednesday” weekly segment. Age 19, she is the daughter of Jonathan and Amanda Kent.
Mississippi Miss Hospitality’s top five contestants were:
Landry Kent, Mississippi Miss Hospitality 2026
Melany Carrasco, Pascagoula, 1st Alternate
Anistyn Ivy, Smith County, 2nd Alternate
Presley Bassett, Starkville, 3rd Alternate
Anna Grace Amacker, Pearl River County, 4th Alternate
Mississippi Miss Hospitality program works with local directors, contestants, and sponsors throughout the year to present the weeklong competition in Hattiesburg. In addition to competing and rehearsing, contestants participate in service projects and city tours, along with team building and leadership activities.
“The Mississippi Miss Hospitality reign is a year-long mission of service, storytelling, and state pride,” said Kristen Brock, program director. “Landry will spend her next year visiting communities, championing Mississippi’s tourism and economic assets, and serving as our ambassador. We are incredibly proud of the opportunity to work with such a talented young woman. She will do incredible things.”
Serving alongside Kent at official events and appearances will be Lacy Ruth Swords as Mississippi’s Little Miss Hospitality. Each local titleholder selects a Little Miss to mentor throughout their year-long reign and to be with them during competition week. Swords is nine years old and is the daughter of Nathan and Leslie Swords.
Additionally, a number of other scholarships and awards were given out during competition.
Three Mississippi speech winners were awarded the Jay Slaughter Memorial Scholarship for their 90-second speeches creatively showcasing the state’s history, tourism resources, and business assets. Winners were Melany Carrasco, Pascagoula; Presley Bassett, Starkville; and Makayla Fowler, Wiggins.
The 43 contestants were provided a social media challenge starting two months before competition week that highlighted their hometowns, the program’s sponsors, and more. This year’s social media scholarship winner is Eleanor Glidewell of Booneville.
Glidewell is also the 2026 winner of the Lake Little Spirit of Miss Hospitality award. Nominated and voted on by her peers. The program awards one young woman the Lake Little Spirit of Hospitality Award for her supportive, welcoming, and kind behavior throughout competition week. The annual award is named in memory of Lake Little of Starkville, who passed away before 2019’s competition.
The program awards one young woman a top ad sales scholarship for generating the most community support for the State Competition. The 2026 winner is Jacy Mitchell, Covington County.
The scholarship for the Most Photogenic was awarded to Josie Warren, Pontotoc.
During the Farewell Brunch for contestants, their families, and local directors on Saturday morning, another annual honor was given. The 2026 Volunteer of the Year was Smith County’s director, Elle Sullivan, who exemplifies the program’s values through their mentorship with local titleholders. Sullivan goes above and beyond to ensure Smith County’s representative is fully prepared, well-spoken, and confident for the state competition
For more information or to request Mississippi Miss Hospitality at an event, visit misshospitality.com or the program’s Facebook page. Keep up with Kent’s year-long reign on the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition Facebook and Instagram.
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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 $100,000 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.