TUPELO — Following a weekend of events, on March 24, young women from across Mississippi took the stage at the Tupelo Performing Arts Center to compete for the title of Miss Junior Teen Mississippi United States 2019. After competing in private interview, fitness, evening gown and on-stage question, McKenzie Rhett, 16, of Columbus was crowned as winner.
Rhett is the daughter of Robert and Penni Rhett and a sophomore at Heritage Academy, where she is a member of the fastpitch softball team and basketball team. Outside the classroom, she volunteers with her church and advocates for her personal platform, Jump Up for Diabetes, which educates children on the disease and ways they can make healthy food and exercise choices.
In Tupelo, Rhett also received awards for scoring highest in the interview, evening gown and photogenic competitions among her division.
When asked about plans for the upcoming year, she said, “I am excited about the challenges I will face to win the national title. My plans include getting in the best shape of my young life so that I will have the energy to tackle competing, as well as getting into my community and state to educate children about diabetes.”
Rhett will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada, in July to compete for the title of Miss Junior Teen United States 2019.
Miss Junior Teen Mississippi is an official state preliminary to the Miss United States Pageant.
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