Local Jr. Misses off to Meridian: Alex Parker and Rebekkah Unbehagan will compete for the state title in Meridian this week

By Ginger Schmidt

Lifestyles Editor

Picayune Junior Miss Alexandra M. Parker and Pearl River County Junior Miss Rebekkah Anne Unbehagan will be traveling to Meridian this week to compete for the title of Mississippi Junior Miss 2009. The pageant is set to take place over the course of three days, July 24 – 26.

Parker, daughter of Ivan and Edna Parker, is a student at Picayune Memorial High School. She has a brother named Michael J. Parker.

In addition to the title of Picayune Junior Miss, Parker also won the Sam Adkins Be your Best Self award and the Coca-Cola Scholastic award at the local competition which took place last January. For the talent portion of the state competition, Parker will be singing “My Strongest Suit” from “Aida.”

Parker’s career goals include musical theatre or mass communications. Her college of choice is NYU-Tisch School of the Arts.

Her achievements and activities include being an active member of Pilgrim Bound Baptist Church, being the Captain of the Pride of the Tide Dance Team, being a member of the Juniorettes, she served as class president for 9th, 10th and 11th grades, she was Who’s Who Among American High School Students, she won M.H.A.A. Best Supporting Actress in 2005, she was a member of Mike Miller’s Dance/Macy’s Parade in 2006 and she was 4th runner up in Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant in 2007.

Unbehagan, daughter of Leonard and Belinda Unbehagan, is a student at Mississippi School of the Arts. She has a brother named Rhett Michael and two sisters, Sarah Elizabeth and Abby Marie.

In addition to the title of Pearl River County Junior Miss, Unbehagan also won the Talent and Fitness portions of the local competition. Her talent for the local competition, which she will also perform for the state competition, was a physical interpretation to “Phenomenal Woman.”

Unbehagan’s career goals include dance and musical theatre. Her college preferences include Florida State, Southern Miss. and Boston Conservatory.

Her activities and achievements include being an arts ambassador for the Mississippi School of the Arts, being a student instructor at Leisha’s School of Dance, being “Chosen Elite” for the American All Star Dance Team, winning the Student Body Citizen Award at Mississippi School of the Arts, she has been a member of several clubs including Spanish Club, Book Club and Environmental Club, she is a theatre major at Mississippi School of the Arts and she is a member of the First Baptist Church of Picayune Promise Choir.

Both young women will be treated to several days of organized activities such as Karaoke Night and a visit to a local water park. Drivers have been prearranged to pick them up and take them to all of their activities throughout their stay.

The city of Meridian is a wonderful host as the entire community celebrates the pageant and its contestants. With a Miss America pageant type atmosphere in the air, the city arranges itself to accommodate the Junior Misses.