There's a new crown in town

On Nov. 5, Southern Miss student and Hattiesburg native Myverick Garcia won the Miss Mississippi USA title at the event held in Tunica at the Harrah's Events Center.

Last year, Garcia received 1st runner up in the competition. This year, however, she beat out 28 women for the coveted title that earned her a spot in the 2012 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas next June.

Garcia is a 22-year-old biological sciences major and transferred to USM from Jones County Junior College. She works as a dental assitant at Dental Group of Ellisville and hopes to use her degree to pursue a career in dentistry.

Garcia said she was more confident in her performance in last year's pageant and was shocked when she was announced the winner this year.

"Last year, everything went right and this year nothing went right," Garcia said. "I felt I was average. Apparently not, because God had other things in mind."

In moments before crowning, Garcia said she thought about what her reaction would be if she won.

"Oh man, I hope I'm not one of those girls that cry," Garcia said. However, Garcia surprised herself when tears formed when she was announced the winner.

Garcia won a $57,600 scholarship along with the title of Miss Mississippi USA. She hopes to finish school, do mission work with her church and perhaps try out to be a Disney character under her reign as Miss Mississippi USA.