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Vicksburg’s Bryleigh Landers named first runner-up in Miss Mississippi Junior High School America pageant
Vicksburg native Bryleigh Landers placed first runner-up in the Miss Mississippi Junior High School America pageant in Meridian. The Vicksburg Catholic School seventh grader also promotes kindness and bullying prevention through her Be a Buddy, Not a Bully platform and…
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Vicksburg native Bryleigh Landers was named first runner-up in the Miss Mississippi Junior High School America pageant over the weekend in Meridian.
Landers, a seventh grader at Vicksburg Catholic School, represented her hometown as Miss Vicksburg Junior High School America during the three-day competition held Friday through Sunday.
The pageant featured contestants from sixth through eighth grades across Mississippi. Contestants competed in three categories, including an interview worth 40% of their overall score, fun fashion worth 20% and evening gown worth 40%.
Landers finished as first runner-up, while Sarah Hamilton Farr, an eighth grader from Rankin County, was crowned the winner. Landers will have another opportunity to compete for the state title next year as an eighth grader.
Outside of pageants, Landers is making a difference by promoting her platform, “Be a Buddy, Not a Bully,” which encourages students to treat others with kindness and respect.
Her passion for preventing bullying comes from a personal experience involving her brother, Louis, who has autism and was made fun of at school.
Landers has turned that experience into an opportunity to educate others and has already published two books promoting her message.
She regularly visits classrooms to read her books to students and hopes to expand her efforts by visiting more classrooms throughout Vicksburg.
Along with her success in pageants and advocacy, Landers stays active in athletics and school activities. She participates in basketball, Flashette, volleyball and soccer.
Landers is the daughter of Aden and Cari Wansley and Scott and Allison Landers.
