France Beard, left, is crowned Miss University 2015 by Miss University 2014 Anna Beth Higginbotham during Miss University 2015 scholarship pageant in Oxford, Miss., Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. (Photo/Thomas Graning)
France Beard won the 66th Annual Miss University Scholarship Pageant on Wednesday night at the Gertrude Ford Center. The pageant was hosted by Miss University 2014 Anna Beth Higginbotham and Miss Mississippi 2014 Jasmine Murray and featured 15 of the university’s best and brightest, competing for scholarships.
Beard, a resident of Madison, Mississippi, won the title and a $2,000 scholarship. Her talent was a lyrical dance to “Dream in Color,” and her platform is the Children’s Miracle Network: Lifting Spirits, Providing Hope. She is a member of Kappa Delta sorority and a junior political science major. She stated in her on-stage interview that she hopes to become a defense attorney.
Beard was also the recipient of the Interview and Lifestyle awards.
The first alternate, winner of a $1,000 scholarship and the immediate successor to Miss University, was Morgan Lindsey Burnett. Burnett also won a $100 scholarship for Most Support Ads Sold.
The second alternate and winner of $500 scholarship was Ivey Swan. Swan also received a $100 scholarship for the Evening Gown portion.
Katri Gilbert, who performed “Gypsy Airs” on the violin, was the winner of a $100 scholarship for talent.
Murray gave the welcome address, and Higginbotham helped introduce the judges. Among the evening’s judges were Dennis Horn, graduate of Mississippi State University and veteran pageant judge within both the Miss America and Miss USA systems. Also judging was Pam Mayfield, an Ole Miss alumna and owner of a clothing store, who has dressed 22 past Miss Mississippi winners, two of whom went on to become Miss America.
First was the evening gown competition, which Murray described as being based on the contestants’ “charm, presence and personality.” During the evening gown portion, the contestants were also asked an on-stage question related to their platforms or their individual beliefs.
In the interval between the evening gown and lifestyle and fitness swimsuit competition, Chris Coffin took the stage with his acoustic guitar to perform an original country courtship ballad called “If You Let Me.”
During the lifestyle and fitness competition, the ladies were judged on the basis of “how well the contestants maintain a lifestyle of good physical health,” Murray said.
As the contestants walked, the emcees introduced them, listing their majors, classifications and platforms. Contestants ranged from freshmen to graduate students.
Following the swimsuit competition, the Hinge Dance Company provided entertainment in the form of a lyrical number in greyscale called “Distorted.”
The final leg of the competition was the much-anticipated talent portion. Performances were short but incredibly varied.
While the judges voted and the votes were counted by the auditors, performances were given by both Murray and Higginbotham, who sang “Something’s Got a Hold on Me” and “Con Te Partiro/Time to Say Goodbye,” respectively.
Before the results were announced by Murray, Higginbotham gave her farewell address via slideshow. She thanked the university, her sponsors, her family and her friends for their support in her Miss University and Miss Mississippi experience. She challenged the new Miss University to use her reign to her advantage and to enjoy the adventure ahead.
