Sarah Randolph woke up early on Thursday morning, too anxious to go back to sleep. Despite her nerves, she spent the day doing many of the normal things in her routine: going to classes, taking a quiz and going to choir practice.

But by Thursday evening, Randolph would be crowned the 2025 Miss Mississippi State University, along with sweeping the awards in the talent, evening gown and interview categories during the 66th annual Miss MSU competition in Bettersworth Auditorium at Lee Hall.

“That was absolutely unbelievable,” Randolph told The Dispatch on the auditorium’s stage after her crowning. “I competed in Miss MSU last year, actually, and I was runner-up last year, but I don’t think I won any of the preliminary awards last year.”

Miss MSU is a preliminary pageant for Miss Mississippi and Miss America. The competition included a private 10-minute interview with the judges earlier in the day worth 30% of each woman’s score, a coordinated dance routine to open the show, a health and fitness portion worth 20%, a talent portion at 20%, an evening gown portion at 20% and on-stage interview question at 10%.

Randolph, a senior biological sciences major at the university, competed against eight other delegates during Thursday night’s pageant to take home the crown.

The moment was particularly special to Randolph, she said, since she was crowned by her childhood friend 2024 Miss MSU Morgan Nelson. The pair share their hometown of Vicksburg, attended MSU together, and competed against each other in the pageant last year.

Randolph said the two of them are “like sisters,” which meant she was already crying in the wings just minutes before her own crowning as she watched Nelson’s farewell from the position. The tears continued to roll down her face as 2024 Miss Mississippi Becky Williams repeatedly called her name, announcing each category she won and her winning the crown.

Nelson, too, was tearful as she hugged Randolph and crowned her.

“Just being able to crown her was like a full circle moment,” Nelson said. “We’re always the type of friends where we love doing similar things. But just being able to support each other in every endeavor that we do is just amazing. I value our genuine friendship so much.”

Backstage bonds

While the pair’s childhood connection is unique, the support they showed for each other was not. Many of Randolph’s fellow delegates that competed against her stayed long after the competition ended to hug and congratulate her.

Randolph said the whole group had bonded together throughout the pageant process, especially during the five-hour rehearsals each day during the week leading up to the competition and in the dressing rooms behind the scenes.

“We bonded really, really well,” Randolph said. “People were willing to help out here and there if you needed something. We were constantly helping each other out backstage. So, it wasn’t like a competitive environment. Everyone made each other feel very comfortable and welcome.”

Karolina Heathcock, a senior wildlife fisheries and aquaculture major who took home the title of first alternate, said it was her first pageant she had ever competed in. She said she was “super, super nervous” getting on stage for the first time, but the other delegates encouraged her throughout the process.

“The girls at this pageant are absolutely incredible, and I hope they take away as much as I did,” Heathcock said. “… Funny enough, on the opening number, I left my pants at home. And Reese (Allison Smith), thankful for her, she had a pair of leggings. So we were just helping each other, zipping up our dresses and just uplifting each other.”

Nelson said wearing the crown over the past year also helped her to connect with other students on campus and with other women in the Miss Mississippi pageant in Vicksburg this summer.

Director of the Center for Student Activities Kylie Forrester was working behind the scenes Thursday as the pageant’s co-director. Forrester also held the title of Miss MSU 2006, a role that has permanently bonded her with other women who have shared the crown, she said.

“I think the biggest thing is the sisterhood that it creates,” Forrester said. “I think sometimes pageants can get a bad rap for mean girls. But I think it depends on the program and the kind of culture you’re fostering. And I think Miss MSU has been a really sweet program and the girls really encourage each other.”

Growth and opportunities

While the competition helps to create friendships, Miss MSU also provides women with opportunities to grow their confidence, Forrester said, as they train for how they will present themselves and practice speaking about community service initiatives they are passionate about. That confidence can also open doors for the rest of their lives, Forrester said.

“I don’t think I would be where I am without my experiences as Miss MSU,” Forrester said. “Definitely wouldn’t have gone and gotten my master’s in student affairs and I wouldn’t be working at the university. So it kind of led me to where I am.”

Miss MSU 1998 and 2000 Julia Lake Patton also spoke during the pageant, saying the role gave her the confidence to be prepared for every job interview she’s ever gone to.

“I think there was only one time that I did not get the job, and I think that was because the daughter of a boss was actually interviewing for the same position,” Patton said. “And they actually called me the next day and said ‘hey, we’re making a position for you.’”

The pageant also helps to open doors through scholarships, Forrester said, helping to take the burden of student debt off of the winners.

The scholarships are provided by donations from pageant supporters, she said, including other former Miss MSU winners.

Randolph was also awarded $250 scholarships for each category she won, along with a year of tuition for winning the 2025 Miss MSU title.

While Randolph already earned academic scholarships, she was grateful for the opportunity both the MSU and Miss Mississippi pageants have given her to cover the last portion of her tuition that her parents were still helping her pay previously.

“I’m really, really excited to be able to finish off graduating from Mississippi State debt free, thanks to this competition,” Randolph said.

When the pageant ends, the job of serving as Miss MSU begins, Forrester said, as the winner signs a contract to fulfill commitments throughout the year, along with preparing for Miss Mississippi the next summer.

Randolph said she is excited to spend the next year serving in the role, promoting her community service initiative “Big Sis Me,” and competing at the state level while also planning her path through dental school and the next four years of her life.

Pageant Winners

■ Talent, with a $250 scholarship: Sarah Randolph
■ Evening Gown, with a $250 scholarship: Sarah Randolph
■ Interview, with a $250 scholarship: Sarah Randolph
■ Spirit of Miss MSU, with a $250 scholarship: Skylar Harden
■ Third Alternate, with a $500 scholarship: Avery Gray
■ Second Alternate, with a $750 scholarship: Jaycee Drew Janzen
■ First Alternate, with a $1,000 scholarship: Karolina Heathcock
■ Miss MSU 2025, with a one-year tuition scholarship: Sarah Randolph