This pageant thing appears to be a pretty big deal.

Most of my adult life has been spent in Mississippi and so I know a little about the history of the Magnolia State sending some of their most talented young ladies to the Miss America Pageant — and winning. But I never realized until moving to Vicksburg just less than a year ago what an impact the Miss Mississippi pageant has on this community.

I’m catching on quickly.

The Vicksburg Post has been planning for weeks our advance coverage of the pageant, the special section that published Sunday, as well as the events taking place this week.

Along the way, I have been learning.

Being blessed with a crew of veteran reporters and photographers has certainly helped in my learning curve of what all takes place for the pageant and how to plan for coverage of the event.

I’m what you would call a “newbee” when it comes to pageant coverage.

I have a daughter, but her only pageant experience — and mine for that matter — was in one of those toddler lineups where she and a few dozen other little girls put on their pretty dresses and cried for their parents up on a stage. Apparently some of them grow out of this stage fright phase of their life.

I’m looking forward to catching a few nights of this week’s festivities, especially Saturday night’s finale. I’m told it is quite an experience.

As I looked at the bios of the 49 contestants while I proofed the special section before it printed Sunday, I couldn’t help but notice some of the amazing accomplishments of these incredible young ladies. All of them seem to have made life goals for themselves and are committed to making a difference with some of the platforms I read.

While the Miss Mississippi Pageant has a huge impact on Vicksburg, it is evident these phenomenal young women will have an even bigger impact on their communities.

Good luck to them all this week and Saturday night.

Rob Sigler is editor of The Vicksburg Post. He can be reached at rob.sigler@vicksburgpost.com. Readers are invited to submit their opinions for publication.