45 have sights set on 2008 title

The 51st Annual Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg kicks off today, as 45 contestants arrive to compete for the crown and a chance at the national title.

Last year’s contest featured 47 young women.

Preliminary competition will begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday at Vicksburg Convention Center. Contestants ages 17-24 will compete in off-stage interview, evening wear, talent and swimwear categories during the week before they are whittled down to the top 10, which will be announced Saturday night. Those 10 will compete for the 2008 title in a live TV show at 8 p.m. on Jackson’s WLBT, local cable Channel 3. The winner will be crowned and, in January, head to the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas.

This year’s pageant theme is The Mirror Ball. It will be hosted by Michael Young and Miss Mississippi 2006 Taryn Foshee and will feature Miss Mississippi 2007 Kimberly Morgan and Miss Mississippi 1962 Charlotte Ann Carroll.

Miss Mississippi Special SectionPublic activities this year include the dedication of the Miss Mississippi riverfront mural. The painting by artist Robert Dafford will be the 27th of the 32 murals planned at the City Front floodwall.

Other public activities include autograph signings at George Carr, in downtown Vicksburg and at the Outlets at Vicksburg. The Miss Mississippi Parade will roll down Washington Street on Friday night.

Ticketed events include the competition and the Miss Mississippi Ball.

This year’s competition features 20 blondes, 24 brunettes, and one red-haired contestant.

Twenty-two have blue eyes, eight have green, 11 have brown and four, hazel. In the talent category, 28 will sing, 12 will dance, three will play piano, one, the flute and another, the saxophone.

Nineteen are Miss Mississippi veterans, four competed in Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, and 22 are new to the pageant.

If you goThe Miss Mississippi preliminary competitions will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. The winner will be crowned Saturday at Vicksburg Convention Center in an 8 p.m. live show on Jackson’s WLBT, local cable Channel 3. Tickets for all four nights are $100; for Tuesday and Wednesday nights, $25 each; for Thursday night, $30; and for Saturday, $50. For information, call 601-638-6746. Other pageant-week events:2 p.m. Friday – Unveiling of Miss Mississippi riverfront mural; City Front floodwall, Levee Street.7 p.m. Friday – Miss Mississippi parade; will roll down Washington Street.8 p.m. Friday – Miss Mississippi Ball; Rainbow Arena, Warrenton Road; $25 in advance, $30 at the door.For an autograph9:30-11 a.m. Tuesday – Group B; George Carr, 2950 S. Frontage Road.10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday – Groups A & C ; downtown Vicksburg.9:30-11 a.m. Thursday – Groups A & B; Outlets at Vicksburg, 4000 S. Frontage Road.Group AMiss Clinton Karmen ToddMiss Deep South Erin HawleyMiss Delta State University Lauren VanceMiss Grenada County Amber HarrisonMiss Hattiesburg Jessica CofieldMiss Historic Crossroads Melissa KingMiss Leaf River Valley Amarette Aube’Miss Madison County Sarah Beth JamesMiss Metro Jackson Brooke BeardMiss Mississippi State University Corie StanfordMiss Pontotoc Lauren RosadoMiss Rankin County Crystal FloresMiss Southwest Mississippi Community College Jessie GibsonMiss University of Southern Mississippi Emily Anne GadilheMiss W Amanda Jade CrumbleyScheduleMonday morning – Interview8p.m. Tuesday – Talent10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday – Autograph party, downtown Vicksburg8 p.m. Wednesday – Evening wear9:30-11 a.m. Thursday – Autograph party, Outlets at Vicksburg8 p.m. Thursday – SwimwearGroup BMiss Alcorn County Alison Rhea ParsonMiss Dixie Kimberley PerryMiss Dixieland Danielle BarrierMiss Heritage Kelly LangfordMiss Hinds Community College De’Lisha WigginsMiss Hinds County Diana StricklandMiss Houston/North Central Anna TadlockMiss Meridian Danielle SmithMiss Mississippi Coast Marie WicksMiss Mississippi College Morgan ByrdMiss New South Katie MorganMiss Southern Magnolia Joy PowellMiss Tupelo Meredith BeemanMiss University Mary Brandon NormanMiss William Carey University Abby BoykinScheduleMonday afternoon – Interview9:30- 11 a.m. Tuesday – Autograph party; George Carr, 2950 S. Frontage Road8 p.m. Tuesday – Swimwear8 p.m. Wednesday – Talent9:30- 11 a.m. Thursday – Autograph party, Outlets at Vicksburg8 p.m. Thursday – Evening wearGroup CMiss Central Mississippi Lindy LewisMiss Delta Blues Whitney AllenMiss East Central Amber WinsteadMiss Flowood Katherine BarkettMiss Gulf Coast Christine KozlowskiMiss Holmes Community College Brittni DickersonMiss Itawamba Community College Kacy Lea ColemanMiss Jones County Kristen BenignoMiss Magnolia Brittainy ChildersMiss Mid South Ashley BuckmanMiss Northeast Mississippi Community College Katrina Lynn MaysMiss Northridge Bethany ShippMiss Pine Belt Hilliary WaltersMiss Tougaloo Tiffiney GrayMiss West Central Tiffany BoyteScheduleTuesday morning – Interview8 p.m. Tuesday – Evening wear10-11:30 a.m. Wednesday – Autograph party, downtown Vicksburg8 p.m. Wednesday – Swimwear8 p.m. Thursday – Talent