Mignon Merchant Ball

Mignon Merchant Ball  is a family manager, community volunteer, professional speaker and hopeful golfer. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma and a juris doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law. Prior to practicing criminal defense law, Mignon was a television news anchor and reporter.

As Miss Oklahoma, Mignon received a Non-Finalist Talent Award for her stand-up comedy routine at the Miss America Pageant. She continues to be active in the Miss Oklahoma program, working in production as the script writer for the Miss Oklahoma Pageant. She also serves on the preparation team for Miss Oklahoma, focusing on interview. She is a popular emcee for both state and local pageants and judges pageants throughout the country.  She was a preliminary night host for the 2009 Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas and a featured speaker at the Miss America Organization workshop in Orlando.

Mignon's most recent endeavor is running half marathons.  She and her husband, Stan, a golf professional, have four boys and are devoted University of Oklahoma Sooner fans.
 

Michael Hannah

Michael Hannah of Las Vegas has had the opportunity to judge state and local pageants in 32 states and the District of Columbia, as well as vocal competitions, talent shows, public speaking contests and dance competitions.  Michael has served as a member of the Miss Texas Organization Board of Trustees and as the chairman of the Miss Texas’ Outstanding Teen (formerly Miss Teen Texas) program. He is currently assisting with the Miss Nevada's Outstanding Teen Program.

A project manager/senior management consultant for IBM Global Business Services, Michael specializes in Healthcare Financial Systems Implementations, Business Process Improvement and Business Re-alignment/Re-engineering.

Michael is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and is the father of two grown sons: Kristoffer “Kit” Hannah and Jonathan Michael Hannah, both residing in northern California.

 

Dr. Briggs Hopson

Dr. Briggs Hopson has served on the Miss Mississippi Board of Directors for the past 35 years, and served as its Chairman for 30 years.  He has judged pageants in 35 states and was a member of the state panel which selected three eventual Miss Americas.  The Hopson family hosted Miss Mississippi Cheryl Prewitt and Susan Aiken in their home in preparation for competition in Atlantic City.  These two went on to become Miss Americas.  

A published author of numerous scientific articles, Dr. Hopson is the past president of the West Mississippi Medical Society, Mississippi Chapter of the America College of Surgeons, and Mississippi State Medical Association.  Briggs has served as the Director of Emergency Medical Services for the state of Mississippi and is listed in Who’s Who Among American Men, Notable Americans as well as Outstanding Surgeons in America.

Briggs and his wife Pat are the parents of four children including Karen who was Miss Mississippi in 1981 and a Miss America top ten finalist.

 

Dana Dalton Judge

Dana Dalton Judge was Miss Florida 1990 and a preliminary swimsuit winner at Miss America that year.  She has emceed and judged Miss America  state pageants across the United States.  Dana currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Miss Florida Pageant.  

Professionally, she has appeared in numerous productions on stage, film, television, and in print advertisements.  She has been a guest entertainer, performed with the USO, and has worked internationally as a music demonstrator.
 
Dana graduated from the University of Connecticut debt-free because of scholarships earned through the Miss America Organization.  She is involved in her church, her children’s schools, and her community.  Dana; her husband, Jim; and daughters, Chloe and Dalton, live in Sarasota, Florida.
 
 

 
Betha Hubbard Gill

Betha Hubbard Gill is a native of Jackson, Tennessee who now resides in Memphis.  She is the Fashion Special Events Coordinator for Laurelwood Shopping Center and the past president of the Professional Modeling Association.. Her experience as a model spans from runway and trunk shows to National Television and Commercial Print.  She has previously served as a judge for the Mid South Fair Talent Show and has served as mentor and coach to the Cotton Council’s  “Maid of Cotton”.

As a graduate of Rhodes College with a degree in German and Communication Arts, Betha  is a member of the President’s Council and has received the Outstanding Alumnae Award.  She has a Masters in Counseling  from the University of Memphis and serves as Coordinator of Fashion Shows for LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Stax Museum,  Theater Memphis, and many others.  

Betha is married to Ray Gill and has three grown children:  Brown, York and Lizzie.