Today, the preliminary competitions for the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant get underway.

Tomorrow, the final competition will be held, and a new MMOT will be crowned.

In a few weeks, the Miss Mississippi Pageant will kick-off, so since I have to cover both events, I refer to this time of year as “pageant season.”

Growing up in Vicksburg, I attended my fair share of pageants but only as a spectator.

But now that I am involved with the organization by covering the events for The Post and see it from a different perspective, I have come to learn how the pageants are important to the economics of our town, and also, I have been inspired by the many who volunteer their time.

For instance, my friend Jennifer Tillotson became the producer of the MMOT pageant last year, and the show came off without a hitch.

Jennifer is not paid for all the work she does, she told me she just loves working with the girls.

I guess one of the reasons behind this could be that Jennifer has four sons and three grandsons. She has, however, picked up two daughter-in-laws along the way.

And whoever thought to ask Jennifer to take on this role, I applaud them too.

She has more talent in her little finger than I do in my whole body.

Then there is Jayne Fedell, who is the producer of the Miss Mississippi Pageant.

Like Jennifer, Jayne says she has fun working with the girls.

Maybe it’s because I have three daughters, but the thought of working with so many girls/women at one time sounds like a penance!

So a big shout-out to these two talented women for giving their time.

I would be remiss not to mention Miss Mississippi Board secretary Earl Edris.

By the end of “pageant season,” this man is probably sick to death of me with all my phone calls to him.

Without Earl, I do not know how I would do my job. He is the man with all (almost all) the answers. He makes sure I get the contestants’ biographies, he sends the paper all the headshots of the contestants and he holds my hand through the listing of the princes and princesses who participate in the Miss Mississippi Pageant. (There are lots and lots of princes and princesses.)

These are just three of the many people who make up the pageant family, as they refer to themselves.

There are plenty more, from the ladies who work the dressing rooms to the hostesses who take care of the contestants’ needs.

So if you know anyone who helps out with either or both pageants, be sure and thank them.

Because whether you are a pageant goer or not, the MMOT Pageant and the Miss Mississippi Pageant are an economic boom to our city.

Thanks volunteers.

Terri Cowart Frazier is a staff writer for The Vicksburg Post. You may reach her at terri.frazier@vicksburgpost.com.