HATTIESBURG – Lincoln County Miss Hospitality Hailey Ratcliffbrought home a little more than just her sash following thecompletion of the state Miss Hospitality Pageant during which shewas named second alternate.

As second runner-up to the title Saturday evening, Ratcliffreceived around $850 in scholarships, prizes and other giftsdonated by merchants, said Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber ofCommerce Program Director Kay Burton.

“I was very pleased with how she conducted herself,” Burtonsaid.

Burton said Ratcliff also made a lot of friends while she was atthe pageant, some of whom will be going to college with her atMississippi State in a few weeks.

“She enjoyed the whole experience. She was a great representativefor Lincoln County,” Burton said. “I think she is going to go onand do a lot of great things in the future.”

Ratcliff is the first Lincoln County representative to grace thetop five since Joy Powell competed a couple of years ago, Burtonsaid. In 2002, Lincoln County’s Katie Newman took the statetitle.

Starkville native Tori Ferguson was crowned the 2008 MississippiMiss Hospitality. She and Ratcliff were two of the 38 contestantswho competed Friday and Saturday at the Saenger Theater in downtownHattiesburg.

As Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality, Ferguson will tour the statepromoting Mississippi tourism, as well as act as a good willambassador around the state.

First alternate was Gentry Stevens of Wayne County. Third alternatewas Morgan Hurt of George County. Fourth alternate was Tara Tutorof Pontotoc. Winning the award for Most Photogenic was Tara Tutorof Pontotoc. The award for Spirit of Miss Hospitality, which isvoted on by the contestants, was Whitnie Hill of PrentissCounty.