HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Jane Granberry, Miss Mississippi 2026, advanced to the semifinal round at the Miss America 2027 competition Saturday in West Palm Beach, Florida, earning recognition in the pageant's preliminary events and bringing national attention to the state.
Strong showing in preliminaries
Granberry, an MBA student at the University of Mississippi, was named one of 11 semifinalists out of a field of 52 delegates representing the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico at the Kravis Center. Earlier in the week she was named one of three winners in the Evening Gown preliminary competition, a distinction that came with a $3,000 scholarship prize.
The Evening Gown preliminary winners also included representatives from Louisiana and Iowa. While Granberry did not advance to the final five contestants, her semifinal placement and the scholarship award underscored a solid week of competition on the national stage.
A Mississippi representative with roots in the state
Granberry, who is from Hattiesburg, claimed the Miss Mississippi crown in June after finishing second in the state pageant the two previous years in Vicksburg. She has a background in the Miss Mississippi Teen program and returned to the state pageant with what organizers described as a plan that reflected her personality.
Following her state crowning, Granberry said her motivation for competing was to represent the people and opportunities of Mississippi. She told pageant audiences that being Miss Mississippi meant introducing others to the organization and its benefits.
"I wanted to be Miss Mississippi, because I want to represent the place that raised me," Granberry said after winning the state title. "Whether that is people I've met before or people that I will only meet once, if I can introduce someone to this organization and what it can do for them, then that's a job well done."
Miss Mississippi's performance at Miss America
In addition to the Evening Gown recognition, Granberry's week included a jazz dance performance and a fitness competition win in the preliminaries—events that drew attention from judges and audiences alike. The Miss America organization stages multiple preliminary competitions over several days to evaluate contestants across talent, presentation and fitness.
Miss America 2027 was crowned Saturday night; Regan Hutsell of Texas took the national title. The Miss Mississippi program historically has produced four Miss America winners — in 1959, 1960, 1980 and 1986 — though the state has not claimed the national crown since 1986.
Local impact and scholarships
Scholarships awarded during the Miss America competition represent one of the pageant's primary benefits for participants. Granberry's Evening Gown award came with a $3,000 scholarship, joining other scholarship dollars available throughout the week for talent, fitness and other preliminary achievements.
For many Mississippi contestants, those scholarships support higher education and community work. As an MBA student, Granberry's scholarship earnings contribute directly to her academic pursuits at the University of Mississippi.
Looking ahead
Although the final crown did not return to Mississippi this year, Granberry's semifinal placement and preliminary award are likely to be highlighted by state pageant officials and local supporters as evidence of continued competitiveness for the program. Her path from two consecutive finishes as a runner-up at the state level to winning the Miss Mississippi title and advancing at Miss America illustrates both persistence and local community backing.
Granberry's performance also reinvigorates attention on the Miss Mississippi program ahead of next year's state competition, where outgoing titleholders customarily pass the crown to a successor.
- Contestant: Jane Granberry, Miss Mississippi
- Hometown: Hattiesburg
- Education: MBA student at the University of Mississippi
- Achievement at Miss America: Semifinalist; Evening Gown preliminary winner ($3,000 scholarship)
- Miss America 2027 winner: Regan Hutsell of Texas
| Year | Miss Mississippi Miss America Wins |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Win |
| 1960 | Win |
| 1980 | Win |
| 1986 | Win |
Granberry's week in West Palm Beach brought scholarship dollars and national exposure to a local candidate rooted in Mississippi's pageant tradition. While the state will await the next opportunity to pursue a national crown, Granberry's results add to Mississippi's record of producing competitive delegates.
Curtis Whitfield, State Correspondent, contributed reporting from Hattiesburg and compiled national results from pageant organizers and event coverage.
