Anna Leah Jolly’s journey to Mississippi started when she was 12 years old. She was adopted from a Ukrainian orphanage after years of abuse and neglect. Now, 12 years later, she has learned to speak English, mastered ballet, and won the Miss Mississippi crown. Her next stop is the Miss America competition.
Anna Leah Jolly, Miss Mississippi 2025, says she is not focused on her past in Ukraine. But she did explain how she ended up in an orphanage.
Jolly said, “When I was about five years old, I remember just being dropped off at an orphanage. Not even walked in, like at the gates. I remember there was like a little bench that I was sitting on, and whoever was working there, like found me and they were like, ‘Who just dropped you off?’ And I remember my mom just like couldn’t take care of me.”
Going through years of abuse that landed her in a hospital and near death several times, Jolly says she is more focused on her purpose than the pain of that time in her life.
“I definitely have been through some very tough situations when it came to my biological family. I was abused as a child, and there were many times where I should not have survived, but here I am now, and I’m using my story now to bring hope to other children”, Jolly said.
Miss Mississippi says her journey to the crown has been different, but every young woman who participates makes significant contributions to their communities, this state, and the nation.
Jolly said, “To look at my life now, you know if I could tell that little girl like hey, just hold on because 12 years from now you might get the chance to represent the greatest nation in the world and that, that’s why it means so much to me because of how drastically different my life is now.”
Jolly is sure the Miss America judges will ask her opinion on the war in Ukraine.
“There is such a rich history there, so it’s so sad to see just all of that kind of dissipate, but I know that Ukraine is a strong country and the people are resilient, so I would love for them to come out on the other side of this,” said Jolly.
Miss Mississippi will compete at Miss America in three weeks. She could become the second state representative from Brandon to win the national title. Mary Ann Mobley was also from Brandon. She was the first Miss Mississippi to win Miss America in 1959.
This year, Miss America is bringing back the Quality of Life Awards that will focus on the Community Service Initiatives of the 52 delegates.
Jolly is hoping her CSI Limitless will help her become the second Miss Mississippi to take top honors and win a ten-thousand-dollar scholarship.