Before the lights go up and the curtain is drawn, rehearsals are held.

This weekend competitors for both the Miss Mississippi Competition and the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will gather in Vicksburg to prepare for their respective competitions.

Participants will also glean the necessary information needed to compete during the orientation portion of the weekend.

This year, 41 candidates will be vying for the title of Miss Mississippi and 32 contestants are hoping to be crowned Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen, Miss Mississippi Board secretary Earl Edris said.

Orientation for both groups will include introductions from their respective boards and the mechanics of the show.  

Orientation for the Miss Mississippi Candidates will begin Friday at Hinds Community College – Vicksburg Campus on Highway 27. Dance rehearsals will begin early Saturday morning at the St. Aloysius gym and orientation will wrap up Sunday.

The Magnolia Belles and Beaus formally referred to as the Miss Mississippi’s princes and princesses will also arrive Saturday.

They too will have an orientation period as well as dance rehearsals.

The children will also have the opportunity to meet the candidate they will be serving.

Events for the teen contestants will kick off Saturday with orientation.

A Magnolia Princess crowning ceremony will be held beginning at 4:45 p.m., and an autograph party will follow at 6:30. All events will be held at the HCC – Vicksburg Campus.

Dance rehearsals for the Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen competitors will be held Sunday.

This year, Nancy Robertson, a long-time VWSD educator, is serving as the producer of the Miss Mississippi Competition.

Robertson said she looks forward to serving in this role and gave credit to all those who have been instrumental in helping her prepare.

“I am in awe of the army of volunteers and support team for the Miss Mississippi Competition,” Robertson said.

Robertson promised, with the help of the Miss Mississippi Board and the hundreds of volunteers from the community who work together to create the best show in town, “This year will be no exception,” she said.

The Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant will be held April 25 and 26 at the Vicksburg Auditorium and the Miss Mississippi Competition will run from June 24 through 27 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

For more information, visit missmississippipageant.com.