This summer, several dozen young women will descend on Vicksburg to compete for scholarship money, a tiara and a Miss Mississippi title.

Twice.

The Miss Mississippi Corp. has announced the first Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen pageant, and the winner of the teen title, just as with Miss Mississippi, advances to a national event.

Competition for the new title begins July 14 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. The winner will be crowned July 16. It will follow the Miss Mississippi competition, held in Vicksburg since the 1950s, which will be July 6-9.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for our teenagers to earn money for their education, as well as meet other teens from around the state,” Miss Mississippi executive director David Blackledge said of the new event.

Teens may sign up from anywhere in the state. The competition is open to girls ages 13 (as of July 11) and 17 who have not started their senior high school years.

Expected are 55 contestants who will be judged on evening wear, casual wear, physical fitness, on-stage question, talent and an interview with judges. The winner will receive a $5,000 savings bond, a wardrobe allowance and an all-expense paid trip to compete at the national level, a first for Miss America-affiliated pageants, executive secretary Wayne Sutter said.

Four alternates will each receive a $1,000 savings bond.

A top 10 group will be announced the final night of the event. The group will compete in all competitions again except for the interview. The field will then be narrowed to five, and the winner will be chosen from that group, Sutter said.

Contestants not chosen at the local level will, for this year only, be able to submit an application, Sutter said. The application consists of a 2-minute video introducing the applicant and a 1- to 2-minute video showcasing a talent. It may be a solo in a dance recital or music recital and does not have to be professionally produced, Sutter said. The tapes will not be returned. Entries must be received by March 7.

The idea behind the new competition is to give future Miss Mississippi contestants more experience, Sutter said.

“The last four Miss Louisianas have come out of their teen program. Last year Miss Louisiana was first runner-up (at the Miss America pageant),” Sutter said.

One difference between the pageants is that the teenage contestants will have to provide their own housing for the weeklong event. Miss Mississippi contestants are housed at pageant expense.

Mallory Graham, Emmy-winning director and choreographer of the Miss Mississippi pageant, will also direct and choreograph the teen pageant, Blackledge said.