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Published 12:00 am Saturday, March 1, 2008
Though the pageant is nearly four months away, the River City is bustling this weekend with young women who will compete to be the next Miss Mississippi.
The 45 contestants, joined by local pageant directors and competitors for the title of Miss Outstanding Teen Mississippi, are in Vicksburg for orientation. The three-day event kicked off Friday night with registration at River Region Medical Center. While at the hospital, the competitors signed in, were fitted for clothing and shoes, had their pictures taken and met fellow contestants.
“It’s been a joy to be a part of this,” said Dr. Briggs Hopson, a physician at River Region and chairman of the Miss Mississippi Corporation. Hopson said he has been involved with the Miss Mississippi Pageant since he volunteered to be the contestants’ physician 35 years ago. His wife, Pat Hopson, is vice chairman of the Miss Mississippi Corporation and has also been involved with the pageant for years.
“This hospital has contributed a lot to this contest, and we look to continue doing so in the future.”
Today, the girls will be at Purks YMCA rehearsing dance numbers for the pageant, which will be June 24-28 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. On Sunday, the girls will attend a session at Hinds Community College, where they will go over rules, guidelines, judging and other pageant issues.
“It’s a lot to fit into one weekend, that’s for sure,” said Miss Hattiesburg Jessica Cofield. “But it’s very enjoyable, and I love getting to know all of the girls.”
She did have one concern, though.
“I’m not 100 percent sure how the dance rehearsal will go,” she said, pointing to a broken toe. “I suppose I’ll get through it.”
For the first time in at least 50 years, no contestant will represent the pageant’s host city. At the end of last year’s event, longtime organizers Bill and Alene Thornton retired from the Miss Vicksburg Pageant, leaving directors looking for a replacement. No one has filled the void, making it too late for the local pageant to send a representative to the state competition and on for a shot at Miss America.
Executives at the Miss Mississippi Corporation are persisting in their search for a director to renew the contest next year. David Blackledge, executive director of the state organization, said that some people have expressed an interest, but did not give any names.
Sponsoring a local pageant requires putting up a scholarship prize of at least $250 and paying a $375 franchise fee to the Miss Mississippi Corporation.
Blackledge said the Miss Vicksburg Pageant dates back to at least 1958, when the Miss Mississippi Pageant was first held here.
This year’s Miss Mississippi Pageant kicks off June 24 and includes three days of preliminary competitions. The new queen will be crowned June 28 on live TV.