Becca Childers wins Miss New Albany title, will compete at state

Becca Childers will represent the community as Miss New Albany for the coming year.

Macie Phyfer will serve as Miss Teen New Albany.

The two were chosen from among 20 contestants in the pageant held at the Magnolia Civic Center this past Sunday. The competition had been postponed due to bad weather.

Erica Gregory was first runner-up to Miss New Albany and Jodi Parks was second runner-up.

Madison Bennett earned the Spirit Award.

In the teen category, Landry Kent was first runner-up and Summer Whiteside was second runner-up.

Childers will not only serve as hospitality representative for the city but will go to the statewide Miss Hospitality Mississippi competition later this year in Hattiesburg.

The pageant was sponsored by the New Albany Main Street Association and office of Community Development.

Ivy Jordan won the title this past year, the first time the city pageant had been held in 30 years.

She was able to serve the community despite the pandemic and was in the top 10 entrants in the state competition.

Both pageants are scholarship-based and were organized by Chris Pugh, who served as emcee along with Jordan.

Altogether, $4,000 was given in scholarships.

The Miss Teen New Albany pageant is for young women ages 13 through 17. Judging was based on evening gown appearance and then active wear. As winner, Macie Phyfer will receive a $500 scholarship.

The Miss New Albany pageant is for women ages 18 (as of July 11) through 24. Judging was on a casual get-to-know-you five-minute interview with judges, a 20-second speech on stage promoting New Albany and Union County, and then evening gown.

Miss New Albany Becca Childers will receive a $1,500 scholarship. First runner-up Erica Gregory will receive a $750 scholarship.

All the scholarships must be used at Mississippi schools and contestants must live in New Albany or Union County, or if in college have a primary or parents’ address in Union County.

Entrants in the Miss Teen New Albany competition were Addie Owen, Macie Phyfer, Claire Douell, Katie Littlejohn, Summer Whiteside, Landry Kent, Addie Mayo and Alexis Pitts.

Entrants in the Miss New Albany pageant were Carson Grisham, Becca Childers, Annalise Bailey, Jodi Parks, Mary Kate Nobles, Karley Conwill, Madison Bishop, Tensley Taylor, Kailyn Rape, Erica Gregory, Madison Bennett and Micah Taylor.

Scholarship donors were BNA Bank, Van-Atkins, Pam Brown State Farm and Magnolia Soap and Bath.

Winners in the Miss Teen New Albany pageant are, from left, Second runner-up Summer Whiteside, Miss Teen New Albany Macie Phyfer and first runner-up Landry Kent.