Miss Mississippi finds inspiration in family, faith

Last week when she was Miss Vicksburg, Anne Elizabeth Buys took out the evening gown and swimsuit her mother wore when she was fourth runner-up in the Miss Mississippi Pageant years ago.
"We know it’s family first and football second.
And Buys was a Miss Mississippi Magnolia princess during the time that Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Beth Tadlock won her crown.
Buys’ platform is Water For Life, which helps raise money for clean water wells for areas that don’t have access to clean water.
"I was around 13 years old when I saw the faces of these children that had just seen clean water for the first time," she said.
"Just last month Vicksburg was without water for three days.
More than anything else, Buys credits her faith for keeping her grounded during the work that goes into preparing for a pageant that has been your dream for years.
Then came two years of competing in the Miss Mississippi pageant.
I’ve truly seen him work through the timing purposes in my involvement in the pageant," she said.
Last year, in my head I was ready to be Miss Mississippi, but he wasn’t ready for me to be Miss Mississippi.

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