Paired with a Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Contestant, little girls from across the state made a first step in participating with the Miss Mississippi Pageant organization Saturday night when crowned as a Petite Magnolia Princesses.

“I am looking forward to getting the crown, and I really hope I don’t drop it,” Petite Magnolia Princess Kaylin Costello said.

Costello was one of 25 children who are participating in the program this year, which is geared for little girls who range in age from five to eight years old.

Each princess was either selected by or assigned to a Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen contestant.

Miss Clinton’s Outstanding Teen Kali Lee had her six-year-old sister, Ashlyn Heindl, serving as her princess.

“I was actually a princess before I was able to compete in the pageant, and I remember having so much fun, and I know my little sister will have fun too,” Lee said.

The little princesses, many of whom were dressed in tulle and sequins waited patiently for the crowning ceremony to begin.

Some were even practicing their waves and walk.

Six-year-old Reagan Burrell was looking sassy with an “up-do” hairstyle.

“I had a special hairdo and went to Wal-Mart to get curls and then my mama put it up in little pony tails,” Burrell said.

The crowning ceremony kicked off with Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen executive director Winky Freeman welcoming everyone to the ceremony followed by 2016 Miss Mississippi Laura Lee Lewis serving as the emcee for the event.

As Lewis called each Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen contestant’s name, they would escort in their little princess. The reigning Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Stella Ford had the honor of crowning each child as they reached the stage, and then a pink sash bearing the title of Petite Magnolia Princesses was pinned across their chest. Lewis then introduced the newly crowned princess.

This was Petite Magnolia Princess Anna Grace Terry’s second time to serves as a princess in the teen pageant she said, and this year she was also going to get the opportunity to be in the Miss Mississippi Pageant. 

Terry is old enough to also participate in the Miss Mississippi Corp. Magnolia Prince/Princess Program, which is designed to offer girls and boys the opportunity to be mentored by contestants competing in the pageants, and the young royalty can also be involved with their respective contestant’s community outreach.

The Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will be held April 29 and 30 at the Vicksburg Auditorium, 901 Monroe St.

The first preliminary competition will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 29, with the second to follow at 7:30 p.m.

The final day of competition and crowning will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30. Tickets are $75 for all three competitions and are available by calling the Miss Mississippi Pageant office at 601-638-6746 or by visiting the Miss Mississippi Pageant website.