The new Miss Magnolia is a Crossett resident who is a junior biology/pre-med major at Southern Arkansas University, on track to become a naval officer.

Valerie Brown sings, too.

She is preparing a new song for the Miss Arkansas Pageant, “Summertime” from the opera “Porgy and Bess.”

Brown won the Miss Magnolia Pageant last month. She sang, “Art is Calling for Me” in the Magnolia pageant.

Brown is a 2006 Crossett High School graduate. Her father, Ricky, is retired from the Navy and now works for Georgia-Pacific. Her mother, Robbie, is a Wal-Mart ma...