University of Memphis junior Mia Heaston was named the 2001 Miss Mid-South Fair Saturday, the first African-American to win the title.
Heaston, a 19-year-old broadcast journalism major, was chosen from a field of 10 contestants in a competition that judged them on the basis of an interview and on their poise and stage presence. Heaston will be awarded $3,000 in educational scholarships as a result of her win.
22-year-old Grace Page of Trimble, Tenn., was named first alternate and Ashley Hall, also 22, of Bartlett, Tenn., was named second alternate.
Heaston said she was thrilled to win the crown, but she was even more stunned when she learned from Verna Jones, director of special events, that she was the first African-American to win the title of Miss Mid-South Fair. “I couldn’t believe it when they told me I was the first, and I am so honored to have this opportunity,” Heaston said.
A native of Covington, Tenn., Heaston has been competing in pageants since the age of 12 and was a contestant in the last Miss Tennessee pageant as Miss Tipton County 2001. When asked what prompted her to enter the fair competition, she stated that she has always been a Mid-South Fair fanatic and decided she might as well do something productive with her interest and try for the title.
The only sister of five brothers, and the daughter of a Memphis Fire Department paramedic, she says her family can’t believe their tomboy is winning pageant titles. Mia is an honor student at The University and plans to pursue a career as a news anchor and reporter upon completion of her degree.
As of Sunday, she said the most fun activity has been participating in the hog-calling contest. “Nobody thought a city girl could call a hog, but I managed to get three of them in the pen!”
Along with calling hogs and milking cows, Mia also gets to go backstage and meet all of the musical acts performing at the rodeo, as well as those on the main stage. She will also act as ambassador for the Fair during the rest of its run.
