Could Brookhaven have claim to the next Miss Mississippi? AmandaBurton sure hopes so as she vies for the title this week.

“I can’t wait to perform and go through all the competitions,”she said. “I feel very confident, and I think I’d make a great MissMississippi.”

Burton, a 1996 Brookhaven High School honor graduate and Hall ofFame inductee, carries the title of Miss Dixie Land into thefour-day event, which begins with the talent competition Wednesdayat the Vicksburg Convention Center.

All of the Miss Mississippi events will begin at 8 p.m. Thesecond event will be the on-stage interview and evening gowncompetition Thursday, with Friday’s event being the swimsuitcompetition, and the final night of competition Saturday.

During the talent competition, which counts 30 percent, Burtonwill sing an opera piece, “La Canzone di Doretta,” meaning “TheSong of Doretta.”

“It’s from a Puccini opera. It’s a love song all about theimportance of true love in your life,” said Burton.

Last year, Burton was third alternate in the pageant. She wonthe talent competition and a state community service scholarship.This will be her fifth time to compete in Miss Mississippi.

“I’ve never been more prepared for anything in my life. I’m justso relaxed,” she said.

Following the preliminary events, the panel of judges will rankthe top 15 girls, then the top 10 composite scores will be thefinalists Saturday. Composite scores count 40 percent going intoSaturday’s event.

The 10 finalists will compete in talent, evening gown andswimsuit again Saturday. The highest scorers will make the topfive, who must go through an on-stage interview before the finaldecision.

Saturday’s events will be broadcast by WLBT. For ticketinformation call the Miss Mississippi pageant office at (601)638-6746.

Burton and the other contestants will be featured in a paradetoday at 7 p.m. on Washington Street in Vicksburg, followed by anautograph session at Pemberton Mall.

Burton’s platform, if chosen for Miss Mississippi 2002, will becancer prevention, a topic she has been very involved in as avolunteer with American Cancer Society, Partnership for a HealthyMississippi and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, she said.

Burton, 24, is a 2000 cum laude graduate of Mississippi Collegewith a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences. For the last twoyears, she has worked at University Medical Center in thephysiology department as a research technician.

“I conduct experiments in basic science on the microvascularsystem,” she said about the research on blood flow regulations inthe body.

One of the highlights of her research was having the opportunityto present some of her work to the Experimental BiologyInternational Conference as the co-author of a scientificposter.

“It’s one of the largest conferences in the United States forbasic science, so that was really an honor,” said Burton.

Her goal is to become an obstetrician/gynecologist. This fallshe plans to attend medical school at Nova Southeastern Universityin Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Burton hopes to bring the Miss Mississippi title to Brookhaventhis year as a way to thank her hometown for the support she hasreceived during the last five years.

“I would just like to thank the community for being so graciousand opening their arms to me,” she said.

She is the daughter of John and Kay Burton.