HATTIESBURG — Lee Armstrong of Columbus was crowned Miss Southern Magnolia 2011 at the North Forrest High Performing Arts Center in Hattiesburg by outgoing Miss Southern Magnolia Shelby Corn. Lee is the daughter of Jim and Dorothy Armstrong of Columbus.
Armstrong, 21, is a student at the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in exercise science. Her personal platform issue is Heart C.A.R.E. (Cardiac Health Awareness and Recovery Education). With the title and trip to the state competition, Lee won a $1,100 cash scholarship provided by the Miss Mississippi Corp. She also received a $500 scholarship to the University of Southern Mississippi to continue her education, and other goods and services to help her prepare for Miss Mississippi 2011.
Lee was also honored with awards in Talent, Evening Wear and Onstage Question categories. The first runner-up was Elizabeth Kiehn of Meridian. Lee will travel to Vicksburg in the summer of 2011 to compete with ladies from around the state for a trip to the 2012 Miss America pageant.
The Miss America Organization is one of the nation”s leading achievement programs and the world”s largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. This year the Miss America pageant is celebrating 90 years of existence. Annually, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance
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