Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray, a Columbus native, was among the final 10 contestants in the Miss America pageant Sunday night in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The 22-year-old advanced after both the swimsuit and evening gown competitions.
During the pageant’s talent portion, she performed, “Something’s Got a Hold on Me.” Her vocal performances made her stand out from the pack, according to media from New Jersey to England.
Of course, Murray, who was crowned Miss Mississippi in July at the Vicksburg Convention Center, had sang on stage before.
Murray, a Mississippi State University student, competed in the eighth season of “American Idol” in 2008. She made the top 13 on the show while a student at Mississippi School of the Arts in Brookhaven.
Murray’s platform is “13 Going on 30,” an organization that encourages young girls to embrace their age.
“Everyday I see teen girls in our community that are growing up too fast, and it’s a problem that is being overlooked in our society,” she writes on the “13 Going on 30” website. “I feel they are growing up too fast because of influence from the media through television shows and commercials, lack of good role models, not being accepted by peers, and lack of parental supervision.”
Murray strives to be a positive role model for young girls.
According to the Clarion Ledger, there was a Miss America watch party at the Union Dawghouse on the MSU campus Sunday night. Murray is a communications major at the university.
William Browning was managing editor for The Dispatch until June 2016.
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