Brookhaven — and Mississippi — couldn’t ask for a better representative than Laura Lee Lewis, the new Miss Mississippi.

Lewis was crowned Saturday night and in just about every interview we’ve seen or read, she’s thanked God and the good folks in Brookhaven.

“I hope that as Miss Mississippi and hopefully as Miss America, I can spread a message of love and respect and a compassion for one another, because we’ve lost sight of that love and respect,” she said. “I want to spread the good news and the wisdom of Jesus Christ through my words, through my actions. I just hope I can spread an absolute message of love because now in our nation we need that the most.”

“I’m so blessed to have received all this support,” Lewis said. “Brookhaven is my family and it’s the people of Brookhaven who have gotten me through this journey. They’ve loved me and nurtured me and encouraged me and supported me, and I could not thank Brookhaven enough for all of that.”

Lewis has given Brookhaven much to be proud of. The same goes for Mississippi. We congratulate her on the win and wish her all the best as she prepares for the Miss America pageant.

Four Miss Mississippi winners have won the Miss America title — Mary Ann Mobley of Brandon in 1959, Lynda Lee Mead of Natchez in 1960, Cheryl Prewitt of Ackerman in 1980 and Susan Akin of Meridian in 1986. We know she’ll make Brookhaven proud once again, and we have a feeling she’ll add her name to that list of winners.