Our New 2026 Miss Mississippi is ready to represent the Magnolia State

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — After four nights of steep competition, the winner of the 2026 Miss Mississippi Competition, Jane Granberry, is ready to represent the Magnolia State and be an example of poise, intelligence and grace.

Representing as Miss Capital City she won the Talent division on the first night of preliminaries and was in a three-way tie for Health and Fitness on the third night of the preliminary competitions. It came as little surprise to see her don the crown at Saturday’s final show.

Granberry began her journey to becoming the title holder in 2019 when she was crowned Miss Teen Mississippi at the age of 16.

“It really did start with Teen Miss, and I often like to say that it met me when I needed it,”said Granberry. “I saw the rising cost of college, and a way to not only better myself and better my community, but pay for college and to take that burden off of myself and off of my parents.”

She explained the most important aspect was that the program helped her become one of the best versions of herself.

After reigning as Teen Miss, Granberry said she took a few years off to simply be a student and experience college.

“There was a kind of growing up that I needed to do just from the ages of 18 through 22,” she said. “I came back to Miss Mississippi because I felt the calling to be the representative for the state that had raised me my entire life, but also enhance this organization and expand it for the next generation of 16-year old girls like me that didn’t think that this would ever be a part of their story. And so, that was really my guiding light and my path for coming back to compete in Miss Mississippi, because it’s not just a job, it’s not just a role, it’s not just an opportunity. It’s an incredible journey, an incredible honor.”

Granberry attended Ole Miss earning a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communications. She has is also working on earning a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi. To complete her master’s she only has two classes left.

A native of Hattiesburg, now 24 year old Granberry said she fell in love with Oxford’s campus. With her family being from Oxford originally, she explained she grew up visiting the town during winter and summer breaks.

“I really just developed a love for the community before I even stepped on campus as a student. It was a large part of why I loved Oxford so much. I had incredible opportunities there. I was on the dance team,” said Granberry. “It was my childhood dream to be an Ole Miss Rebelette, and I did that for 4 years. I had the team, and that kind of environment pushed me to be a better version of myself, similar to Miss Mississippi. Having young women, really powerful young women, just be there to encourage me and be the friends I needed. And also for me to be the friend they needed. That’s what Oxford is. That’s what Ole Miss is.”

Granberry also credited her family as a stable support system to helping her achieve her goals. In addition to her parents, Granberry is the middle child with an older sister and a younger brother.

“They have supported me when I’ve needed supporting and they’ve humbled me when I’ve needed humbling. That is the beauty of having siblings and being in the middle, and also having parents that know when to check you in a loving way, of course. But I like to say that my parents are ‘yes and’ people. “I wouldn’t be here without them, without their support and without, the miles that they’ve driven me sometimes and the humbling that I’ve needed when I’ve deserved it as well. So I wouldn’t be there with all them.”

Granberry chose Literacy without Limits as her Community Service Initiative. She started the program when she was only 15 years old and continues to believe in promoting literacy not only to elementary aged children, but also, to adults who may have given up on learning to read.

“Think of our adult learners that feel like there’s no hope. As parts of the literacy ecosystem, as I call it, I want to make sure they’re not forgotten because we all need to learn more. And that’s one of the beautiful things about education is that there’s always more room to grow,” she explained.

 Granberry is set to use her platform for a mission of promoting literacy throughout the state.

“I’m excited to use this title as a vessel to send the message because I know it is something that lots of Mississippians don’t know or they don’t fully understand how it affects them, but it truly does. It is the bedrock of our communities. There’s direct links to job rates and poverty when it comes to our education systems,” said Granberry. “We don’t need to fault those people. We need to be a support system and be good neighbors and members of the community. During my year as Miss Mississippi, if I can do that in one way, then I will be so proud of it and be so excited to do it.” 

Being a champion for people of the Magnolia State is her biggest goal she explained.

“I really just want to make sure people know I’m here to advocate for them and champion them and be the help that they not only deserve, but sometimes need in certain cases,” she said.

Granberry will now move on to compete in the Miss America Pageant held this September in West Palm Beach, Fla. She explained she has high hopes of representing Mississippi on the national level.

“To showcase Mississippi, look at my talent. It’s a little jazzy, a little funky. Right? I love music like that, very bluesy, very jazzy because of where I grew up. It is no secret Mississippi is the birthplace of America’s music. We have the blues trail that comes down through the state. And so if I can show in any way that we are the blueprint, I guess, I’m planning to do that during talent, and hopefully, people have just as much fun with me as I’m having on stage,” Granberry excitedly explained.

In addition to her musical dance talent, Granberry said there is symbolism with her color choices on stage.

“A part of my commitment this year was to have the strongest sense of self through every competition. And a strong sense of ‘Jane’ is also a strong sense of Mississippi. There’s a good reason why my evening gown is blue. It’s for the Mississippi River, but also because it’s my favorite color. There’s a reason I’m dancing to a funky bluesy talent because that’s the place that raised me and that’s what I love. And so using all of those Mississippi themes and Mississippi elements to perform is gonna be my guiding light and my backbone at Miss America and something that I’m really excited to share,” she said.

Speaking of color and her being a graduate of the University of Mississippi, VDN asked Granberry how she felt about Louisiana State University and the recent change of Head Football Coach Lane Kiffen leaving Ole Miss to join the Tiger’s program.

“Miss Mississippi has no comment this subject,” said Granberry as she laughed. “But Miss Mississippi will not be wearing any purple and gold.”

Granberry also addressed critics of the Miss Mississippi and Miss America programs who call the events archaic and and antiquated.

“I would probably first ask them if they support bettering young women and the communities that they live in. And the answer to that question is usually, ‘yes’. So, why not become a part of Miss Mississippi? Why not find ways to have a service initiative that really speaks to you? Why not have the interview prep experience that will make you the leading candidate in any role that you ever interview for? There is so much more than the onstage competition that people get to see, and I’m sad that nobody gets to see, the interviews and service work that happens behind the scenes. That’s what makes each experience of each titleholder so important. They’re showcasing commitment to a stronger sense of self, and they’re focusing a commitment to their communities throughout their year of service. So I would encourage anyone that may have an outdated opinion or an untrue opinion, really, of Miss Mississippi and Miss America, to really dive into what these young women have done and how they are bettering themselves in their communities because that is why this is still relevant,” said Granberry. “And that is why it will continue to be relevant because supporting young women is always going to be something that we support.”

Granberry said above anything she is thrilled to take on the challenge of serving her home state.

“This was a dream before I even realized it, and I’m ready to take every day as the only one I got and live it to represent and be the best Mississippian I can be. I’m going to be doing that as Mississippi’s Jane, and be the best version of myself for the state I call home.”

Be sure to watch Jane Granberry compete to become the 99th Miss America on September 6, 2026.