Ocean Springs High student Katie Thurber is Mississippi’s new Junior Miss. She will compete for the national title in June 2010.

Thurber, West Jackson County’s Junior Miss, won the state scholarship-program title Saturday night in Meridian. First runner-up was Rayne Harris, a Pascagoula High student and Moss Point’s reigning Junior Miss.

Thurber received a $10,000 cash scholarship from Mississippi’s Junior Miss Scholarship Foundation. She also received a $1,000 scholarship from Meridian Coca-Cola and $1,500 for preliminary wins in fitness, scholastic and self-expression competition.