Bella Broadhead will represent Mendenhall in the 76th Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition at the Historic Hattiesburg Saenger Theater in downtown Hattiesburg July 18 - 19.
Bella Broadhead is a junior at the University of Southern Mississippi, majoring in elementary education with a business minor. Bella takes great pride in serving as an ambassador for Southern Miss as a cheerleader, Luckyday Scholar, and member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. Bella has a deep passion for working with young people and hopes to inspire the next generation, both in the classroom as an educator and on the sidelines as a cheerleading coach.
In its 28 th year as host city, Hattiesburg will welcome this year’s best and brightest young women as they compete for the title of Mississippi Miss Hospitality. Forty-seven women, who represent all regions of the state, will participate in this year’s program, with the winner serving for a full year as Mississippi’s official ambassador for economic development and tourism.
“Each year, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality program gives young women the opportunity to represent their hometowns with pride while developing leadership, communication, and professional skills that last a lifetime,” said Kristen Brock, Mississippi Miss Hospitality program director. “This program is a celebration of Mississippi’s future, and our contestants are some of the most driven and community-minded individuals in the state.”
Contestants will arrive in Hattiesburg on Sunday, July 13, where they’ll be welcomed to The University of Southern Mississippi before beginning a week of rehearsals, service projects, networking, and performances. The week will conclude with two nights of on-stage competition.
“The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition is one of the most meaningful ways we invest in our young leaders,” said Marlo Dorsey, executive director of Mississippi Miss Hospitality and CEO of VisitHATTIESBURG. “This program not only celebrates hospitality and community service but also offers a dynamic platform to showcase the stories, places, and people who make our state special. We are proud to support a program that uplifts emerging leaders while championing the hospitality and tourism industry statewide.”
The Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition also has a Little Miss Hospitality component, which encourages local representatives to serve as a mentor to a young girl from her hometown between the ages of 6 and 10. If crowned the next Mississippi Miss Hospitality, the contestant’s Little Miss will serve alongside her as she fulfills her duties and responsibilities as Mississippi’s Goodwill Ambassador.
Representing Mendenhall as a Little Miss Hospitality is Lexis Case.
A program of VisitHATTIESBURG, the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition is presented by Visit Mississippi, The University of Southern Mississippi, the City of Hattiesburg, Hattiesburg Saenger Theater, and Forrest General Hospital. Sponsorships and patrons allow the program to award more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes to contestants each year.
Leading up to competition week, contestants are participating in a social media challenge with informative and entertaining posts that showcase their hometowns and journey to competition. The winner of the challenge will be awarded an additional scholarship. Hometowns are encouraged to interact with their local contestant online to show their support. Posts can be found using the hashtag #MSHosp2025 on Instagram and Facebook
This year’s production embraces the theme “A Tribute to America’s Music,” inspired by Visit Mississippi’s 2025 campaign highlighting the state as the Birthplace of America’s Music. The program will include special entertainment honoring Mississippi’s legendary musical contributions — from blues to country and rock ‘n’ roll. The finale is set for Saturday evening, where the top 10 contestants will be announced at the beginning of the show and continue to compete for the title. The competition begins at 8 p.m. each night.
Crowned the 75th Mississippi Miss Hospitality in July 2024, Chloe Grace Weeks is a Winston County native and a recent graduate of Mississippi State University, where earned a psychology degree. At MSU, Weeks was a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and served on the DEI Team and Mental Health Board. She is the daughter of Kevin and Twyla Weeks. Serving alongside Weeks as the Mississippi Little Miss Hospitality is Saylor Boswell.
Every year, the state Miss Hospitality program generates approximately $450,000 in economic impact for the local Hattiesburg economy. During Miss Hospitality week, visitors stay in area hotels, dine in local restaurants, enjoy tourist attractions, and shop at local retail locations.
The public is invited to meet the contestants and their Little Misses at the Miss Hospitality autograph party at Turtle Creek Mall in Hattiesburg on Friday, July 18, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Admission to the autograph party is free.
Limited tickets to the live show are still available through hattiesburgsaenger.com and Ticketmaster. For those who cannot attend in person, both Friday and Saturday night competitions will be live-streamed on the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition Facebook and YouTube pages for free, thanks to sponsor Maris, West, and Baker, a Jackson-based marketing agency.
