For the first time in a number of years, Newton County will be represented in the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition when it kicks off on July 18.
On Feb. 1, 2025, McKinley Gregory was named 2025 Newton County Miss Hospitality. Her duty for the following year will be to serve as an ambassador for tourism and development within Newton County.
Gregory, who hails from Decatur, is a graduate of Newton County High School and is currently attending East Central Community College, where she’s majoring in Political Science and keeps a busy schedule by being a member of the Centrallette’s, a Diamond Darling, a Warrior Corps Student Ambassador, and a member of the President’s Council.
“It means a lot to me to represent Newton County as Miss Hospitality. I thoroughly enjoy community engagement. I try to be heavily involved at East Central and we do tons of stuff out in the community,” said Gregory. “We have so many amazing things in Newton County, such as Turkey Creek, Lazy Acres, and the Newton Depot to promote. And I remember when I was young, we had Miss Mississippi’s and Hospitalities visit us at school, and I want to do my part in being a good role model, like they were, to young kids in school.”
So far in her short reign as Newton County Miss Hospitality, Gregory has stepped perfectly into her role of community involvement by attending the opening of the new Decatur Public Library building, attending the opening night the Newton Theatre Company’s youth production of “The Canterville Ghost”, and visiting and reading to students at Newton County Elementary. This week, she’ll be kicking off “Read Across America” week by reading to elementary students at various other schools.
Alongside Gregory in promoting Newton County is her choice as Little Miss Hospitality, Elle May. May is a fourth grader at Newton County Elementary and her parents are Caleb and Natalie May. Gregory said that chose Maya as her Little Miss Hospitality because of their family’s history.
“Ella’s mother used to be one of my parent’s former students at East Central, so we’ve known them for a very long time,” said Gregory. “I just love Ella. She’s so sweet, she’s very spunky, and we have a lot of the same interests.”
May will make appearances with Gregory at some community outings through the year, as well as participate in special events and on-stage performances at the State Competition in July.
Spotlight on Community
Newton Miss Hospitality Director Charlotte Street, who made it her mission to revive the Newton County Miss Hospitality program after some urging from close friend and Scott County program director Heather Thornton, said that Gregory has hit the ground running and is doing a great job in promoting the communities of Newton County. According to Street, a key part of Gregory being named Miss Hospitality was her promotion of her hometown of Decatur and they can’t wait to share it at a later date.
“Part of the competition was the contestants had to prepare a 30 second commercial about their community,” Street said. “We had a panel of four judges, and she did a fabulous job.”
Street said that Gregory and the other contestants at the state competition will be judged on their community advertisements, which they’re really excited about. And with the main goal of the Miss Hospitality program being the promotion of Mississippi and its communities, Street said that she felt it was important to get Newton County back into the picture.
“We have so many amazing things within Newton County. Why not get some of that spotlight,” said Street. “We really want to bring economic development into the county, it’s in desperate need. Of course, another part of that is supporting the county’s small businesses, and McKinley has been great at that.”
Street encourages everyone to follow Newton County Miss Hospitality on Facebook and Instagram, which will help in their promotion of everything Newton County.
“The more following we get, the more we can advertise for the county,” Street said. “If you notice when people post on social media, others are going to share it. And the more that people share with us, the more we can get the word out about things and events in the county and grow the county in multiple ways.” Street adds that after Gregory fulfills her term as 2025 Newton County Miss Hospitality, they will be begin the search for the county’s next Miss Hospitality in early 2026, so be on the lookout.
Preparing for State
As Gregory fulfills her duties as Newton County Miss Hospitality, she will be preparing to compete in the 2025 Mississippi Miss Hospitality Competition in Hattiesburg on July 18-19, where she will be judged on One-on-One Interview, Panel Interview, Mississippi Speech competition, Community Commercial competition, and Evening Gown.
Along with the preparation, she has also been tasked with selling advertising spaces in the Miss Hospitality Program Book. Interested individuals or businesses who would like to learn more can reach out to them by messaging them on their social media pages or by emailing them at newtoncomshosp@gmail.com.
