The fourth annual Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will kick off next Wednesday.

This year, 29 contestants ages 13-17 will compete for the title. The winner will be crowned June 13.

“We’re really excited about it. We’ve got an excellent group of young ladies,” said David Blackledge, executive director of the Miss Mississippi Corporation, which sponsors the teen pageant and Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Last year, 35 contestants competed in the program, which is a feeder pageant to the Miss Mississippi contest.

“It’s serving it’s purpose,” said Blackledge. He said several contestants who will be in this year’s Miss Mississippi Pageant, set for June 24-28, participated in the teen pageant.

If you goThe 2008 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will be June 11-13 at City Auditorium. Tickets for all three nights are $50. Single-night tickets are $15 for June 11 and June 12 and $25 for June 13. The 2008 Miss Mississippi Pageant will be June 24-26 and June 28 at Vicksburg Convention Center. Tickets for all four nights are $100. For information, call 601-638-6746.Last year, there were three nights of preliminary competition and a final night, but contestants this year will compete in two nights of preliminaries. The reasons, Blackledge said, include the lower number of contestants and the short amount of time between the teen pageant and Miss Mississippi Pageant, set for less than two weeks later.

Ten veteran competitors are returning for another chance for the title, but no one from Vicksburg. After the organizers of the Miss Vicksburg Pageant retired, no new ones stepped forward, thus leaving the title vacant – for both the teen and Miss Mississippi pageants.

Miss Mississippi 2006 Taryn Foshee will host the pageant. She will be accompanied by Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen 2007 Jasmine Murray, who competed last year as Miss Houston/North Central. The theme is School’s Out.

The winner will compete in Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, set for Aug. 12-16 in Orlando, Fla.

The Miss Mississippi staff will have little down time, as the Miss Mississippi Pageant will celebrate its 51st year in Vicksburg less than two weeks after the teen pageant. It will feature 45 contestants who will compete for a chance in the Miss America Pageant.

The 2008 Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen contestants are:

Miss Leaf River Valley West Noel Anderson, 16, the daughter of Mark and Melinda Anderson of Purvis. She attends Oak Grove High School. She was named Class Favorite in middle school, has been an All-American Cheerleader for three years and received an All-Star Cast award from the Mississippi Theatre Association. She will sing “Love Song.”

Miss Houston North Central Nikki Baird, 13, the daughter of Rob and Gail Baird of Houston. She attends Houston Middle School. She is a member of the Beta Club, Tupelo Cheer Academy Junior Cheering Squad and is a recipient of the Superintendent and Honor Roll awards. She will sing “Part of Your World.”

Miss New South Morgan Lindsey Burnett, 16, the daughter of Ive and Valerie Burnett of Brandon. She attends Northwest Rankin High School and is a member of Beta Club and National Honor Society. She is a graduate of Youth Leadership Jackson. She will perform a jazz routine.

Miss West Central Carsyn Byars, 15, the daughter of Jimmy and Kriste Mangum of Magee. She attends Magee High School. She is a cheerleader, a member of Beta Club and Goodwater Baptist Church Acteens and was named Miss Magee Middle School. She will sing “American Trilogy.”

Miss South Central Holly Marie Byrd, 15, the daughter of LaRue Byrd and Stacey Day of Brookhaven. She attends Brookhaven Academy. She is a member of the Spanish Club and Les Belles de L’Hospitalite and was named Miss Junior High Brookhaven Academy. She will sing.

Miss Rankin County Logan Byrd, 17, the daughter of Tom Bales and Missie Byrd-Bales of Brandon. She attends Northwest Rankin High School. She is senior class president, was named Student of the Month and received a superior rating in vocal ensemble. She will sing “All That Jazz.”

Miss Tougaloo Audrey Case, 15, the daughter of Stephanie Case of Florence. She attends Florence High School. She is a member of the softball team, JROTC, All-State Honor Choir and works with Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s youth division. She will sing “Get Happy.”

Miss Southern Magnolia Shelby Danielle Corn, 17, the daughter of David and Penny Corn of Brandon. She attends Northwest Rankin High School. She is a member of Ballet Mississippi Youth Company, show choir, the National Art Honor Society and was voted Most Photogenic 2005-06. She will perform a jazz dance.

Miss Leaf River Valley East Amanda Carol Emerson, 15, the daughter of Jimmy and Beverly Emerson of Sumrall. She attends Sumrall High School. She is a member of the fast- and slow-pitch softball teams, was voted Most Dependable and is vice president of her class. She will dance.

Miss Gulf Coast Anna Kae Frierson, 13, the daughter of Chad and Jill Frierson of Picayune. She attends Pearl River Central Middle School. She is captain of the cheerleading squad, a member of the varsity soccer team and is in the Duke University TIP program. She will tap dance to “Ease on Down the Road.”

Miss Central Mississippi Elizabeth Gray Henry, 16, the daughter of Mark and Kathy Henry of Brandon. She attends Northwest Rankin High School. She is vice president of Mu Alpha Theta, student government class reporter and recipient of the Presidential Award for Educational Excellence. She will sing “Circle of Life.”

Miss Alcorn County Leah Maresa Houston, 15, the daughter of Jay and Seresa Houston of Corinth. She attends Corinth High School. She is a member of the tennis team, Science Club, Art Club and the National Honor Society and collects “I Love Lucy” memorabilia. She will sing “Singing Anyway.”

Miss Southwest Kelsey Ann Jackson, 16, the daughter of Teddy and Jennifer Jackson of Brookhaven. She attends Brookhaven High School. She is a member of FOCUS show choir, the R.A.T. Pack and was accepted to the Mississippi School of the Arts. She will sing and yodel.

Miss Midsouth Laura Lee Lewis, 15, the daughter of Mark and Lorin Lewis of Brookhaven. She attends Brookhaven High School. She was a Senate page for the Mississippi Legislature, a member of Junior Auxiliary Crown Club and was voted Class Favorite and Best Dressed. She will sing “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

Miss Mississippi Coast Taylor Luckey, 16, the daughter of Alwyn and Jeanne Luckey of Ocean Springs. She attends St. Paul’s High School. She is a member of the swim team, is Student Government class representative and is the recipient of the freshman Latin and English awards. She will sing “Astonishing.”

Miss Metro Jackson Megan McBeth, 16, the daughter of Scotty and Joell McBeth of Brandon. She attends Northwest Rankin High School. She is a member of the Cougarette dance team, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and was awarded the key to the City of Flowood. She will perform a jazz dance to “My Strongest Suit.”

Miss Historic Crossroads Ashley Neal, 16, the daughter of Jeff Neal and Kay Bates of Nettleton. She attends Nettleton High School. She plays clarinet in the band, is a member of Beta Club and was voted homecoming maid and Nettleton’s Most Beautiful. She will sing “For Once in My Life.”

Miss Madison County Allie Odom, 16, the daughter of Patrick and Diane Odom of Madison. She attends Madison Central High School. She was asked to cut the ribbon for Learning Express Toys as Madison County’s Outstanding Teen. She will dance.

Miss Jones County Kimberly Page, 15, the daughter of Anthony and Becky Page of Ellisville. She attends Northeast Jones High School. She is a member of show choir and Glade Baptist Church, coaches pee-wee cheerleaders and received the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence. She will sing “Somewhere Medley.”

Miss Magnolia Denise Powell, 14, the daughter of Roland Powell and Selika Sweet of Pearl. She attends St. Joseph Catholic School. She plays the clarinet and the viola, is a member of the Girl Scouts Speaker’s Bureau and received the Cross-Country Most Valuable Runner of the Year award. She will sing a Broadway song.

Miss Deep South Mary Margaret Roark, 17, the daughter of Fred and Mary Jo Roark of Cleveland. She attends Bayou Academy. She is a member of the cheerleading squad and the soccer team, Bayou Blues show choir and was twice voted Most Intellectual by her peers. She will play the piano and sing.

Miss Dixieland Callie Rush, 16, the daughter of Sonny and Karen Rush of Meridian. She attends Lamar High School. She is a member of Beta Club, National Society of High School Scholars and was voted Class Favorite, Friendliest and Most Huggable. She will dance to “Defying Gravity.”

Miss Meridian Haley Sowers, 14, the daughter of Ronnie and Gina Sowers of Collinsville. She attends West Lauderdale High School. She is a cheerleader, a member of the Suzie McCraw Dance Troupe and performed with the Russian Ballet for four years. She will perform a lyrical dance.

Miss Northridge Stephanie Stanford, 16, the daughter of Keith Stanford and Cindy Campbell Stanford of Grenada. She attends Kirk Academy. She is president of Sub-Deb Cotillion and a member of the Spanish Club and her church’s praise band. She will sing.

Miss Hattiesburg Scarlett Thomas, 14, the granddaughter of Woodie and Cheri Mathis of Richton. She attends Richton High School. She is a member of Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, National Honor Society and Diamond Girls. She will sing “My Heart Will Go On.”

Miss Dixie Allison Kay White, 15, the daughter of Keith and Rhonda White of Brookhaven. She attends Brookhaven Academy. She is a member of the basketball, soccer and track teams, and received a pleasure riding award at the Dixie National Rodeo. She will sing.

Miss Clinton Brittany Owens White, 17, the daughter of Bob and Joyce White of Clinton. She attends Clinton High School. She is a cheerleader, a member of the National Honor Society and the Arrow Singers, and was named Choir Member of the Year. She will perform a lyrical dance to “A Piece of Sky.”

Miss Pontotoc Hannah Whitlock, 13, the daughter of Rod and Paula Whitlock of Pontotoc. She attends Pontotoc Junior High School. She is a member of the basketball, cross country and cheerleading teams and was named 2007 Miss Pre-teen Pontotoc. She will sing.

Miss Tupelo Magan Wilburn, 17, the daughter of Randy and Rachel Wilburn of Mooreville. She attends Mooreville High School. She is a member of the Beta Club and Student Council and was named Most Beautiful and Best Dressed. She will tap dance.