Four local qualifying contests for the 2010 Miss Mississippi and Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen pageants will be earlier than normal and on a Sunday this year.

If you go

The Miss Vicksburg and Riverbend pageants and Miss Vicksburg and Riverbend teen pageants will be at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at City Auditorium. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at People’s Drug Store, 1521 Washington St., or at the door. Contestants may register as late as the day before the contests. Call director Amanda Monsour at 601-631-0271, or e-mail her at amanda@amandamonsour.com.

The Miss Vicksburg, Riverbend, Vicksburg Outstanding Teen and Riverbend Outstanding Teen competitions will be at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 25 at City Auditorium.

“This is the first time I know about it being held on a Sunday, but there are others who hold their preliminaries on Sunday,” said Amanda Monsour, in her second year as director of the four pageants. “It’s not unheard of.”

Sunday worked out to be the better day, she said, because of schedule conflicts among contestants.

The pageants are earlier this year, Monsour added, because it gives Vicksburg-area girls the opportunity to compete for the hometown title first before choosing another contest. The 2009 contests were in February.

Hosting the show this year will be Kiefer Slaton, who has been a Miss Mississippi Pageant performer, and Kami May, the 2009 Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen.

Nine contestants have signed up for the four pageants — two for Miss Vicksburg, one for Miss Riverbend, three for Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen and three for Miss Riverbend Outstanding Teen. Girls can enter as late as next Saturday, the day before the pageant, Monsour said. Miss America pageant rules require at least four contestants per contest.

“I would love for more girls to compete because it makes for a better competition,” Monsour said.

Girls 17 to 24 can enter the Miss Vicksburg and Riverbend pageants. To qualify for Miss Vicksburg, a contestant must live, work or go to school in Warren, Claiborne, Sharkey or Issaquena counties. The Miss Riverbend contest is statewide.

Girls 13 to 17 can compete in the teen contests, however a 12-year-old will be admitted if she will turn 13 before the 2010 state pageant, set for June.

Miss Vicksburg and Riverbend contestants will compete in talent, swimwear and evening wear, with an on-stage questionnaire. The teens will compete in talent, lifestyle and fitness and evening wear, with on-stage questionnaire. All the girls will be judged in a private interview. 

Winners of the Vicksburg and Riverbend contests will each receive a $350 scholarship and will advance to the 2010 Miss Mississippi Pageant, set for July in Vicksburg. The winner of the statewide pageant will advance to the Miss America contest, typically held in January. Teen winners will each receive a $200 scholarship and advance to the state pageant.

New this year is the Little Miss Vicksburg contest for children as old 17. It is not affiliated with the Miss Mississippi contest and is being used as a fundraiser, Monsour said, and to beef up interest in the statewide pageant.

Competing in Miss Vicksburg will be:

• Jeralyn Paige Stuart, 17, the daughter of Jerry and Shirley Stuart of Vicksburg. She is a senior at Warren Central High School, where she is in the band and Total Sound. She also sings in her church youth choir. Jeralyn will sing in the pageant.

• De’Lisha Wiggins, 21, the daughter of Melvin Wiggins Sr. and Yolanda Martin of Vicksburg. She is a junior at Delta State University, where she is studying nursing. De’Lisha was a dean’s scholar and is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society. She was Miss Riverbend in 2009, and Miss Vicksburg in 2008. She will sing.

In Miss Riverbend:

• Coriss T. Watson, 22, the daughter of Nez and Dorothy Watson of Grenada. She graduated this year from Delta State with a bachelor’s degree in music education. Coriss was Miss Delta State University in 2007, and has played piano for more than 12 years. That will be her talent in the pageant.

In Miss Vicksburg Outstanding Teen:

• Sonia Rose Arredondo, 16, the daughter of Elias and Glenda Arredondo of Vicksburg. She is a junior at Warren Central. Sonia is a dancer with 11 years of training in jazz, ballet, tap and contemporary. She will sing.

• Piper Booth, 15, the daughter of John Booth and Terri Booth of Vicksburg. She is a sophomore at St. Aloysius High School, where she has a 4.0 GPA and is part of the National Junior Honor Society. Piper has performed in the Vicksburg Theatre Guild’s Fairy Tale Theatre program and “Gold in the Hills.”  She will perform a classical point dance routine.

• Paige Fowler, 15, the daughter of Paul and Sheila Fowler of Vicksburg. She is a sophomore at Warren Central, where she is a Red Cord volunteer and is part of  Service Over Self. Paige is a member of the soccer team. She will sing.

In Miss Riverbend Outstanding Teen:

• Amanda Carol Emerson, 16, the daughter of Jimmy and Beverly Emerson of Sumrall. She is a junior at Sumrall High School, where she was nominated for the past two years to be a People to People Ambassador. Amanda has been trained in gymnastics, acrobatic jazz and dance and clogging. She was the 2009 Miss Pine Belt. Her talent will be clogging.

• CeCe Chaney Helene Hillman, 16, the daughter of Greg Hillman and Bobby Kay and Tommy Waddell of Union. Cece is a sophomore at Union High School, where she was a Present Day Club essay state winner and an FBLA state competitor. She wants to be a lawyer. CeCe will sing.

• Lydia Noelle Myers, 12, the daughter of Bill and Teri Myers of Laurel. Lydia attends Northeast Jones Middle School. She has acted in plays and high school musicals, and has recorded a country music song. She will sing.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com