By Staff
Jaime Broadhead, Meridian's Junior Miss, practices her dance for the competition at Carol Merrill's Academy of Dance. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Ida Brown/The Meridian Star
July 29, 2001
The Junior Miss Program has been a longtime presence in Jaime Broadhead's life. For 14 years, Broadhead, her parents Dale and Susie and brother Preston have served as a host family during the annual Mississippi Junior Miss Program.
But this year, the Meridian High School senior won't be a "little sister" to a state hopeful. Instead, she will have experienced the program from another perspective as a contender.
Since winning the long-coveted local title earlier this year, Broadhead has been busy preparing for the state event.
Broadhead also has sought words of wisdom from her former Junior Miss house guests, including Dene Fulton Moore, Neshoba County's 1990 Junior Miss; Karol Scott St. Louis, Picayune's Junior Miss for 1986; and Kristen Logan Sepsi, Lamar County's Junior Miss for 1988, who not only won the state title, but also America's Junior Miss title.
A crowd favorite at the local competition, Broadhead received the presence and composure, panel evaluation and scholastic achievement awards. She also was the "Be Your Best Self" essay winner.
Asked if she had any concerns about the state competition, she said, "I'm taking it as it comes. I plan to give it my best shot; that's what the whole program's about being your best. You never know what's going to happen so it's best to go with a positive attitude."
Like many of her fellow contenders, Broadhead said she is looking forward to "being with the girls."
And while being named a Junior Miss is a lifelong dream come to fruition, Broadhead said there's more to the program than the title scholarships. She plans to pursue a career in pharmacy or radiology at the University of Mississippi, University of Georgia or Birmingham Southern.
Broadhead has studied dance for 13 years. In recent years, she has concentrated on liturgical dance, which she describes as "dancing to worshipful music." For her creative and performing arts presentation, she will perform a liturgical ballet to "Shout to the Lord," choreographed by Deana Dryden, a former member of Ballet Magnificat!
Her honors include: Charter member (1 of 70), Duke Youth Academy for Christian Formation; academic letters for cumulative 4.0 grade point averages (ninth through 11th grades); voted "Most Likely to Succeed," 11th grade; class president, 10th and 11th grades; Student Council representative (ninth through 11th grades); National Honor Society (10th and 11th grades), director appointed clinician for statewide "Music, Art and Drama" camp; and listed in "Who's Who Among American High School Students," 10th and 11th grades.