NATCHEZ — Despite being from Oxford, the newest Miss Mississippi, Kimberly Morgan, feels right at home in Natchez.

“Natchez is my second home,” Morgan said.

In 2005 Morgan was in the Natchez Opera Festival’s “Porgy and Bess” playing the lead of Bess. She has also sung at numerous churches around the area including St. Mary Basilica in addition to speaking at youth events.

Morgan, a graduate of Alcorn State University in Lorman, was crowned Miss Mississippi for 2007 last Saturday night. Miss Mississippi might have been one of her greatest pageants to date, but it’s definitely not the first.

“I have competed in 10 pageants since I was in high school, but I entered my very first pageant, ‘Little Miss Blue Review’ at the age of 5,” Morgan said.

After that, Morgan realized her life’s biggest ambition.

“I remember watching the Miss America pageant and at school the next day, my teacher asked me what I wanted to be, from that moment I knew I wanted to be Miss America,” Morgan said.

“I was a little chubby and I had hearing problems, but somehow I knew, I just didn’t know where, when, why or how.”

She still holds that dream, and hopes it will become fulfilled.

“My dreams will be complete if I win Miss America, it would be a dream come true beyond my imagination,” Morgan said.

Morgan has also used her major of study, vocal music performance, to enhance not only her life, but also other’s as well. She started the GOT MILK program with a class she taught in Quitman County. GOT MILK is an acronym for “Golden Opportunity Toward Music Increasing Literacy in Kids.”

“It teaches struggling children how to learn their lessons, like social studies, math and history, by song,” Morgan said. “When you can incorporate facts into song with rhythm they can comprehend the material better.”

In order to prepare for the Miss Mississippi pageant, Morgan had mock interviews, she practiced her talent, meditated through prayer and trained for the fitness portion of the competition.

“This year was the most challenging pageant I have ever competed in throughout my life,” Morgan said. “They had really challenging judges, they didn’t make it easy for me, that pushed me to be better, and I am grateful for that, ultimately I think it will help me in the future.”

The Miss Mississippi pageant is a week-long event. All of the contestants are divided into three groups where they perform a preliminary event every night, beginning on Tuesday and ending on Saturday.

Since being crowned, Morgan has gotten a taste of what her Miss Mississippi reign will be like.

“I have had interview, after interview after interview and soon I will get my schedule for this year, which will include speaking at events around the state,” Morgan said, adding that she is excited about being a public figure for the state.

“I am looking forward to having a busy year, and learning how to be an ambassador for the state of Mississippi,” Morgan said.

During her reign, she plans to implement several key points in her platform.

“I am going to stick with my platform, GOT MILK, and prepare for Miss America, I will represent everything I stand for to make Mississippi proud and I plan to do anything that can be of service to the state,” Morgan said.

Morgan said one piece of advice helped her through the pageant

“For those who have a dream, follow it, believe it and claim the victory. If it is in God’s will it will be fulfilled,” Morgan said.

No date has been set for Miss America as of yet.