Participants arrive in Meridian for the 2026 DYW of Mississippi Program

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) -32 young women from across Mississippi arrived at Evangel Temple Sunday for the Distinguished Young Women 2026 Program.

Each representative will spend the week at daily rehearsals, evening social events, and even participating in community service projects.

On Thursday and Friday, each young lady will compete in preliminaries, with finals to cap off the night on Saturday. There, one participant will be chosen to represent the state of Mississippi next summer in Mobile.

DYW of Mississippi 2025, Grace Ann Courtney, says she is looking forward to the week ahead and expresses excitement for the next girl to take her title and continue spreading positivity, representing the state of Mississippi.

“This week is definitely kind of bittersweet for me because I’m really excited to see all of the girls and how they play out during both this week and the competition. But I’m a little bit sad to give up my title just because I’ve been able to travel throughout all of Mississippi and spread so much positivity, using to be your best self-ideals. But I’m so excited for the next Distinguished Young Women of Mississippi to use her title to do the same thing. I’ve gotten to volunteer with Casa of South Mississippi. I’ve gotten to speak to a couple of elementary schools about how to be your best self, and I’m just really excited to see. Whoever holds this title next, the positivity that they spread with it,” DYW of Mississippi 2025, Grace Ann Courtney says.

Grace Ann also gives a piece of advice for young ladies interested in participating in the DYW program.

“I think a piece of advice I would give to the next DYW of Mississippi is to not let the intimidation of the task crowd why you decided to do the program in the 1st place. This program has helped me so much with my ability to public speak and has given me an avenue to spread so much positivity, and there were times when I was really overwhelmed by my position, and I really had second thoughts about whether I was the right person to represent this organization or not. But then I remembered why I decided to participate in the 1st place, and I think it’s just a really positive program that spreads so much confidence in young women,” Says Grace Ann Courtney, DYW of Mississippi 2025.

The DYW Committee encourages the public to show their support by attending the autograph party on Tuesday at 4:30 pm at Belle G.

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