Who is Mississippi in P-Valley? Everything to know about Keyshawn Harris' character in the series

Miss Mississippi, also known as Keyshawn Harris is one of the central characters in the American drama television series P-Valley on Starz. The character is portrayed by actor Shannon Thornton, best known for her roles in Power (2018) and Dynasty (2020-2021). Thorton has been playing the part since the show's inception and is expected to take on the role in the show's upcoming season too.

Keyshawn Harris's character in P-Valley comes from a problematic past as Harris is shown to be a victim of abuse at the hands of her boyfriend and her children's father Derrick in the show's first season. However, her experience with Derrick does not deter her from pursuing a dancing and influencing career.

---

All about Mississippi in P-Valley

Mississippi in P-Valley goes by multiple names, partly owing to her former position as a professional stripper/pole dancer. Some of the names she is known by in the show are Miss Mississippi, Miss M-I-Crooked Letter, Miss Sipp, and Key.

Mississippi's abuse at the hands of her boyfriend Derrick in the show's first season plays a huge part in her life. In the show's subsequent season, the abuse that she experiences in her workplace in the hands of Rome also plays a huge part in her life.

---

About Shannon Thornton

Shannon Thornton is currently 37 and was born in Connecticut, U.S. on July 24, 1987. Thorton started acting in 2010 when she was just 23 years old. Her first acting job was in 2010 on Blue Bloods where she played a very minor role of Sara. In 2016, she played the role of Ashley S. on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and then played Kerry Ann Riley on Time After Time in 2017.

Since 2018, Shannon Thornton started taking on meatier roles on television including the role of Yvonne Thorne in Rise, Quinn Phillips in Power, and Jill Frey in FBI. Between 2020 and 2021 she appeared on Dynasty where she played Mia. In 2020 she also took on her role as Mississippi for the first time on P-Valley. In 2022 she appeared as Natasha Lucas in Inventing Anna.

Thornton also stepped afoot into the Hollywood film industry in 2018 with her portrayal of Daray in The Week Of (2018). She is expected to take on Joy's role in the upcoming film Joy Ride, the details of which are yet to be revealed.

---

About P-Valley

The show P-Valley, developed by Katori Hall, is adapted from her play P*ssy Valley. It tells the story of African-American women employed at The Pynk strip club in the Mississippi Delta, owned by Uncle Clifford Sayles.

The show's main cast includes Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan, and Shannon Thornton. They play the roles of Mercedes Woodbine, Uncle Clifford Sayles, and Keyshawn Harris/Miss Mississippi, respectively.

The official synopsis for the show's first season on Starz reads:

"Down deep in the Mississippi Delta lies an oasis of grit and glitter in a rough patch of human existence where beauty can be hard to find."

---

Season 3 of P-Valley is currently in production. Fans are eagerly awaiting news about the upcoming season of the show.