Jackson Free Press

On Saturday, Anna Tadlock of Brandon, 23, was crowned Miss Mississippi at the culmination of three days of pageant events in Vicksburg. According to her profile, the Mississippi State University graduate says her future plans include receiving her master's degree in education and teaching English at the high school or college level. She also sees herself getting married and starting a family within the next 10 years.

"My goal is to be the kind of woman that can balance having time for my family as well as pursue my dreams in a career," she says on the Miss Mississippi Web site

Tadlock won the swimwear and talent competitions in the Miss Mississippi pageant. Her pageant platform was Music as a Positive Influence on Children's Education.

"Research shows that children involved with music have better test scores, hand-eye coordination, and also more self confidence," she says on the site. "They also have better math, reading, and language skills."

The new Miss Mississippi is an only child, with close relationships with her parents, grandparents and extended family. She enjoys "anything outdoors," watching Hitchcock thrillers, cooking, baking and singing.

"I feel that I express myself the best when I am singing or performing for others, and I usually gravitate toward songs that have a message or a story to tell," Tadlock says. "The best music is the kind you can listen to again and again and find new meanings every time you listen."

Her secret wish, she says, "is to have my own cooking show on the Food Network and for Bobby Flay to be a guest on the show!" Tadlock's biggest guilty pleasure is truffles, " because they're rich, chocolate, and the perfect bite of something sweet."

Tadlock, who won a $10,000 scholarship, will compete in the Miss America pageant Jan. 20, 2010, in Las Vegas.