Keely Williams crowns a new winner at the University of Southern Mississippi. Williams, a sophomore music performance major, was crowned Miss Southern last January. The event begins at 7 p.m. at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on the USM campus.
Tickets are now on sale.
The pageant is a first step in the Miss America track, meaning the winner will be able to compete in this year's Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg July 10. King, a native of Waynesboro, represented Hattiesburg in the Miss Mississippi pageant in 1998, winning the title of Miss Mississippi. She is currently a senior at USM majoring in dietetics and nutrition. Swan, a Hattiesburg native and USM graduate, is married to the former Miss Southern 1988, Millie Swan. They have a daughter, Ivey.