Forty-five Miss Mississippi 2008 contestants will register at the Vicksburg Convention Center this morning, and, on Saturday night, one will be the 51st Miss Mississippi crowned in Vicksburg.

A whirl of activities is planned for this week, including three nights of preliminary competition, a ball, a parade, the Miss Mississippi mural unveiling, autograph parties and the final televised night of competition in which the winner will be revealed and crowned. The final night’s competition and crowning will be broadcast on WLBT TV-3.

The Miss Mississippi Pageant and its parent Miss America Pageant are scholarship pageants. Last year, Miss Mississippi gave $666,000 in cash and in-kind scholarships to contestants. One major hallmark of the state pageant is that every contestant is awarded some scholarship money. Last year, each contestant was awarded at least $1,300.

Of the 45 contestants this year, 23 have previous pageant experience: 19 through the Miss Mississippi pageant and four through the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen pageant. Of the 19 returning, three placed in the Top 10 in 2007 and three placed in the Top 10 the year before.

About 28 former crownholders returned last year to celebrate 50 years of the pageant in Vicksburg. This year, at least three will be back, including Miss Mississippi 1962 Charlie Ray who will be a featured performer along with Miss Mississippi 2007 Kimberly Morgan. Morgan placed in the Top 16 finalists in the Miss America 2008 pageant.

Miss Mississippi 1992 Kandace Williams serves as the pageant’s vocal director. Also returning is Miss Mississippi 2006 Taryn Foshee, who will emcee the competition.

The woman who takes the crown Saturday night will compete for the Miss America crown in January in Las Vegas. The national pageant will be aired on cable channel TLC.

OnlineVicksburg resident De’Lisa Wiggins will compete as Miss Hinds Community CollegeMeet the contestants in a special sectionIf you goThe Miss Mississippi Pageant is Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Vicksburg Convention Center, 1600 Mulberry St. Tickets for all four nights are $100. Tickets for one night are available for $25 each for Tuesday and Wednesday; $30 for Thursday; and $50 for Saturday. Tickets for the Miss Mississippi Ball Friday at the Rainbow Arena are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Friday’s 2 p.m. mural unveiling and 7 p.m. parade are free. For more information, contact the pageant office at 601-638-6746.