A new Miss Mississippi Volunteer crowned

Hannah Brook Perrigin was crowned Miss Mississippi Volunteer 2022 during the second edition of the state pageant, held at the Performing Arts Center in Tupelo on July 9, 2022. The Columbus native succeeds the first-ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer, Rachel Shumaker and will represent her state at the next edition of Miss Volunteer America next June in Jackson, Tennessee. Perrigin won $40,000 in cash and scholarship money and intends to use it to pursue a master’s degree in food and nutrition to launch her own business in the fitness industry called “Strong not Skinny.” She said “I love using that hashtag on social media platforms, because I believe it is important to encourage women to not try to shrink themselves to fit any mold society tells them they should fit into but instead they should want to feel strong and empowered.”

When Hannah Perrigin went into the interview portion for the Miss Mississippi Volunteer Pageant, she walked into the room with a Bible verse on her shoe. “Psalm 46;5, and it says, “If God is within Her she will not fail, that is something I cling to in pageants, it’s a roller coaster of emotions,” Perrigin said.

“Being crowned Miss Mississippi Volunteer means more than just a title to me,” Perrigin said. “It means that every no in my life has led me to this yes, and I am ready to get to work for this incredible organization.”

The new crowned Miss Mississippi Volunteer spent her life fostering a love of fitness and wellness alongside an intense devotion to the world of pageantry. She grew up constantly competing in school pageants before carrying that passion over to her college career. While Perrigin pursued a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies at the University of Mississippi, she competed in the University of Mississippi Parade of Beauties. Determined to take the title, Perrigin competed for three years before finally claiming the title of Ole Miss Most Beautiful in 2019.

“That title opened up the door for me to be able to compete on a larger scale. I was presented with the idea that you can either compete in the America organization or the USA organization so that is how this whole thing transpired was winning that title at Ole Miss,” Perrigin said.

She began her preparation for the 2022 Miss Mississippi Volunteer pageant in April after finishing as first runner-up at Miss Mississippi USA for the past two years.

“I was coming pretty much hot off of that pageant but I believe in the saying if you stay ready you never have to get ready,” Perrigin said.

She immediately got to work meeting with her walking coaches, doing mock interviews, planning out wardrobe styling and — for her first time ever in pageanting — preparing a talent.

“This pageant is the first pageant I have competed in that has a talent portion. I met with a dance coach and we got a dance together. Once I got the talent down, I paid my entry fee and crossed my fingers and hoped for the best,” Perrigin said.

About her platform, inspired by her own life’s journey, “Defined by Me allowing individuals to know their circumstances do not define their future, the choices they make every day will determine their destiny,” said Miss Lowndes County. “My mom raised me as a single parent, the strongest woman I know, she stepped away from a situation that if she hadn’t I don’t think I would be the person I am now, we grew up depending on government assistance, low income family, my father was absent from my life, I overcome the odds, definitely,” she said.

She has volunteered with United Way, CASA, and other non-profits to empower youth and adults facing adverse life circumstances.

The new titleholder credits success to non-stop perseverance and the unconditional love of her family, specifically her grandmother. When Perrigin was only 13 years old, her grandmother uttered a simple phrase that she has carried with her throughout life: “Be a light. She has been my strength through competing and has driven me to want to be successful for her so I can live out her legacy,” Perrigin said.

Miss Mississippi Volunteer will spend her reigning year working with the Mississippi Highway Patrol on its D.R.I.V.E campaign. Perrigin will travel to schools across the state to speak with teens about safe driving practices and preventative measures.

“The ultimate goal is to decrease teen fatalities in our state by speaking to them directly. I think they are more receptive to hearing what someone closer to their age has to say,” Perrigin said. She will also “further the S.E.R.V.E. mission of the Miss Mississippi Volunteer and Miss Volunteer America organizations” in her new role.

Shumaker — the first ever Miss Mississippi Volunteer — will aid Perrigin in transitioning into her new role so that her reign can be “as uniquely Hannah as it can be.”

“This was meant to be my yes,” Perrigin said. “Perseverance is key when it comes to pageants because you are gambling on yourself and putting it all on the line for the opinion of others. You really just have to believe in your purpose.”

The 2022 Miss Mississippi Volunteer’s court includes

1st runner-up – Celeste Lay

2nd runner-up – Zoe Bigham

3rd runner-up – Madison Belk

4th runner-up – Natalie Robertson

Miss Mississippi Volunteer pageant, only two years old, was founded by former Miss Tennesse Allison DeMarcus whose husband Jay DeMarcus is the bassist for Rascal Flatts. It hosts teens ages 13 to 17 and adults ages 18 to 25.