Maddie Oliphant was recently crowned the first African-American Miss Mississippi Teen USA 2025. The Hickory native is now prepared to spread her community service platform, Maddie’s Little Library, across the state.

Oliphant, an East Central Community College student, stated that she is committed to improving childhood reading in Mississippi by assuring the availability of physical books throughout the state.

The 19-year-old told WTOK, “The inspiration behind Maddie’s Little Library is my little brother Evan, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 3 and reading was something that we consistently did together, and I noticed how his comprehension skills got so much better with reading consistently, and I want to share his journey with reading with everyone across the state, and I want to host a local book drive now that I’m Miss Mississippi Teen USA to collect books and give back to daycares, preschools and little local libraries.”

She added, “Because it’s people like you and me and ideas like Maddie’s Little Library who can grow this organization, and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”

Oliphant, who won the title after three tries, hopes to expand her platform and inspire young girls everywhere.

The teen stated, “I was the first African American Miss Mississippi Teen USA crowned, and I want to use that as a talking point in my Miss Teen USA interview. I want to show girls that we can do it. You can win pageants, go out and go for it.”

Oliphant has a whole year to serve her state. The groundbreaking pageant winner announced her readiness to lead.

She said, “I want to share my story and give back to the people who made this happen because it genuinely does take a community. I believe that I couldn’t have done this without my small town and the support I had there. I want to give back to them, I want to highlight the small businesses in my town that really poured into me and I want to do them the smallest little favor by just giving back to them.”

Oliphant owed her success largely to her family, who encouraged her to strive for the best.

She continued, “Another person that I’d like to thank is Miss Stephanie Moore my hair and makeup artist who did my makeup for the high school Beauty and Beau’s and for giving me that confidence and then giving me that push that I really needed and without them and the coaches that have helped me along the way, then I wouldn’t be able to be as good at communicating as I am.”