Daly, Richardson to represent Neshoba County in pageant

Participating in Miss Hospitality is something Kara Daly never expected to do, but she is incredibly excited to be traveling to Hattiesburg in July. 

“I was shocked but also honored when Laura Bailey asked me,” Daly said. “Although I was shocked, I was excited, and I’m hoping to go and enjoy a fun week and share Neshoba County with everyone.”

Daly said she and Sellers Richardson, her Little Miss Hospitality, received their crowns last December. She is looking forward to spending time with Richardson and meeting the other girls in Hattiesburg. 

Sellers Richardson is the daughter of Justin and Amanda Richardson.

The 2023 Miss Hospitality pageant begins on July 14 and ends July 15. 

Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality contest, established in 1949 under Gov. Fielding Wright, is designed for women ages 18 to 24 and has championed the state’s tourism and economic development sectors while supporting Mississippi’s best and brightest young women through its scholarship program.

The winner serves as the state’s official Goodwill Ambassador traveling regionally and nationally to promote Mississippi and share her story. Miss Hospitality will also enjoy her part of more than $100,000 in prizes and scholarships offered by the Miss Hospitality program.

Daly is the daughter of Gina and Doug Daly. She graduated from Philadelphia High School in 2021 and is currently studying speech pathology at the University of Southern Mississippi. 

Daly said she is preparing for the pageant by keeping up with current events in Mississippi and around the country. 

“I’m practicing questions and I’m working on a speech I wrote about Mississippi,” Daly said. “I am also working on a commercial about Neshoba County to present, and in that commercial I plan to include the Marty Stuart Congress of Country Music, the Neshoba County Fair, Pearl River Resort, and more. It’s only 20 seconds so I am trying to hit the high points and I am putting a big emphasis on the Congress of Country Music.” 

Daly said the pageant will also have an evening gown portion, and if she makes it to the top 10, she must answer an on-stage question. 

“The question can be about anything,” she said. “It’s typically about Mississippi but it can be about any kind of subject.” 

Laura Bailey, Director of Miss Hospitality for Neshoba County, said she has known Daly since she was born and described her as always happy and ready to help the community. 

“Kara is very active in her sorority and was a good student at Philadelphia High School,” Bailey said. “She and her Little Miss, Sellers, really hit it off and they’re good buddies now. She is so sweet and she’ll do really well overall.” 

Bailey said Daly has been involved in community projects such as painting the flower mural on the Porterhouse wall a few weeks ago. 

“She has a great personality, is very well spoken, and is always happy,” she said. “Kara attended Miss Hospitality orientation on May 20 and will head to Hattiesburg on July 9.” 

Amanda Richardson, mother of Sellers Richardson, said her daughter is very excited about Miss Hospitality and is one of those kids who wants to be involved with everything going on. 

“We’re so excited for her to be involved in representing Neshoba County,” Richardson said. “She loves to dance, and all the Little Misses will have a performance before the pageant. It’s so exciting to see her put on the pretty white dress, and she’s so honored and ready to help Kara represent Neshoba County.”