Miss University Pagent

Royalty of the Past

1950    Katherine Wright
1951    Jackie Walker
1952    Mertice Jeter
1953    Dora Lee Livingston
1954    Suzanne Dugger
1955    Linda Martin
1956    Sandra Webb
1957    Anne Fletcher
1958    Margie Wilson
1959**Lynda Meade
1960    Patty Povall
1961* Annice Raye Jernigan
1962    Catherine Parsons
1963    Mary Lou Pace
1964    Particia Alice Puckett
1965    Barbara Fitch Straub
1966    Betty Carlisle
1967    Martha Tate Stokely
1968    Nancy Carole Land

1969    Cynthia Gay Vincent
1970    Marilyn Hemphill
1971    Jeani Duckett
1972    Barbara Butler
1973    Tori Petty
1974    Donna Hilde
1975    Becky Moore
1976    Nancy White
1977* Mary Donnelly
1978    Pam Hague
1979    Cheryl Stewart
1980    Wendy Shumake
1981    Becky Bush
1982    Daphne Park
1983    Kathy Johnson
1984* Kathy Manning
1985**Susan Akin
1986    Ladye Love Long
1987    Patricia Keith

1988    Dana Dalton
1989    Sherry Bowles
1990    Missy Hurdle
1991    Misty Hammack
1992    Lenena Holder
1993    Candy Carlisle
1994    Arleen McDonald
1995    Kelli Lewis
1996    Karen Smith
1997    Carissa Wells
1998    Audrey Dorroh
1999    Mysti Futral
2000   Megan Flowers
2001    Misty Rea
2002   Jessica Hill
2003   Jennifer Jernigan
2004   April Lancaster
2005   Jennifer Jernigan
2006   Tara Tutor
2007   Amanda Harmon

The pageant, a preliminary to the Miss Mississippi and Miss America pageants, began at the University in 1950 with the selection of Katherine Wright of Oxford as the first Miss University. The University of Mississippi has had five girls claim the title of Miss Mississippi as representative of the University. Lynda Mead (1959), Annice Raye Jernigan (1961), Mary Donnelly (1977), Kathy Manning (1984), and Susan Akin (1985) all claimed the title of Miss Mississippi as Miss University. Lynda Lee Mead and Susan Akin went on to win the crown of Miss America as they represented Mississippi in Atlantic City. The University is proud of its history in the Miss Mississippi and Miss America pageant system.