This week is something special here, as our city hosts 24 young ladies who are vying for the title of Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen.

The work that goes into making this pageant, as well as the Miss Mississippi pageant later this month, a success is almost unimaginable. Many, many Vicksburg and Warren County residents volunteer to perform a number of tasks from chaperoning these young ladies from chauffeuring them to their various venues to helping with evening dresses and every little thing one of them may need in between.

Volunteers like Winky Freeman, who has been in charge of the pageant for years now, have it running like a well-oiled machine. It’s a labor of love for Freeman and others, who don’t even keep up with the many hours they put into making the pageant happen.

The importance of this pageant to our community cannot be overstated. The Outstanding Teen pageant alone brings more than 2,000 to our community, each of who spends money for food, gas, lodging and sight seeing.

You have a number of opportunities to meet the young ladies and view the pageant, which spans three nights beginning on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, the young ladies will hold an autograph signing from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Outlets at Vicksburg. On Friday, another autograph signing will be held downtown from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Reigning Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen, Grace Post, will attend both autograph signings.

Tickets are still available for the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen pageant. Cost for Thursday and Friday evening is $25 each night. Cost for Saturday’s night event, during which the new Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen will be crowned, is $40.

For more information or to purchase tickets, call 601-638-6746.

Let’s do our part to support this year’s pageants, which mean so much for many in our community.