MADISON COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – Miss Mississippi 2026 Jane Granberry and Miss Mississippi’s Teen Madalyn Sullivan were celebrated by supporters in Madison County this weekend as they prepare to compete at the national Miss America Competition next month.
Both titleholders are dancers who have been rehearsing their performances for the Miss America stage.
Granberry eyes history, touts scholarship opportunities
Granberry, an Ole Miss graduate, has earned more than $50,000 in scholarships through the Miss America program.
“I mean we’re talking about $50,000 cash scholarships that I could have used anywhere,” Granberry said. “That’s not counting in-kind scholarships that I received that I didn’t take. So beyond the opportunities that I dove into there were so many more and so that’s why Miss America is the perfect fit for any young woman because it caters to exactly what you need. They just give you the pathway to do it.”
Granberry has traveled across the state collecting books and promoting her Community Service Initiative, Literacy Without Limits, which she hopes to bring to a national audience.
“Passing out books and making free resources for people and really just using my love for literacy to try to impact someone else because, at the end of the day, that is the foundation of the rest of our lives,” Granberry said. “And if I can give one person the gift of literacy or the gift of confidence in their literacy then that’s a job well done.”
Granberry could become the fifth Miss Mississippi to win the Miss America crown.
Sullivan aims to be first from Mississippi to win Teen title
Sullivan said she first competed at Miss Mississippi’s Teen at age 13.
“I had no clue what I was doing. I was very not confident with who I was. I struggled with interview but thanks to competing over the past three years I have had many mock interviews and many in-person interviews that have really helped me find my sense of self,” Sullivan said. “And I think that’s what I love most about the Miss America opportunity. Finding your sense of self and the scholarship dollars.”
Sullivan said she is continuing to prepare, with dance rehearsals scheduled in Jackson ahead of the competition.
“I’m really, really excited to hit the stage at Miss America’s Teen and no matter what happens I know that I gave it my all so I’m just really excited to see all of my hard work pay off,” Sullivan said.
Mississippi has previously produced a fourth and second alternate to Miss America’s Teen. Sullivan hopes to be the first from the state to win the national title.
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