Rotary hears from pageant finalist

The Starkville Rotary Club got an update on two local pageant finalists at its meeting Monday.

The club heard from Starkville's Miss Hospitality Lake Little and Miss Starkville coordinator Kayla Mcminn. The current Miss Starkville Mikayla Poindxeter was scheduled to speak at the meeting, but was unable to attend. Little will participate in the statewide Miss Hospitality pageant in Hattiesburg on July 27, while Poindexter will compete in the Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg from June 19 to June 22.

Mcminn said Poindexter would compete in evening gown, interview, talent, and onstage question.

“The Miss America Corporation is the leading scholarship provider for women in the country,” Mcminn said. “For a number of years Miss Mississippi Corporation has lead the nation in the amount of scholarships granted to these women.

Little said the Miss Hospitality pageant focused mainly on economic development for the communities represented. She received her title in March.

“Something I'm really excited about is being Starkville's Miss Hospitality,” Little said. “Since I do love this town so much, I'm excited to be able to represent it.”

“It's a goodwill ambassador for the state of Mississippi,” Little added. “Since I love this state so much, I actually decided to go to the Air National Guard and serve this state.”

Little graduated from Starkville Academy last week, and will study speech pathology at the University of Southern Mississippi starting in the fall. She is also a member of the Civil Air Patrol, and is currently working toward a pilot's license.

“For Starkville and for the state, the Miss Hospitality program is all about promoting the economic development side of it,” Little said. “Since I've been here since I was 4 years old up until I graduated high school, I can see that it's just grown, and I look forward to seeing how much it's going to grow.”