Local preliminary competitions for the Miss Mississippi Competition are held throughout the state with the winners of each advancing on to the state competition. On Dec. 30, the final two preliminary competitions — Miss Vicksburg and Miss Key to the South — will be held in the River City.

Amanda Harris, who serves as the co-director for both competitions along with Rachael Hollowell, said women born from 1996 to 2006 are eligible to compete.

The competitions will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at the Parkside Playhouse Theatre, 101 Iowa Ave.

Harris said the Miss Vicksburg competition is a “closed pageant,” meaning contestants must either live, work, or attend school in Warren, Claiborne, Issaquena or Sharkey counties.

“Miss Key to the South is open to anyone living in Mississippi,” she said.

People interested in learning more about the competition and how to compete are asked to visit www.miss-mississippi.com/how-to-compete.html.

Harris said the four-step registration process can be found at the bottom of the website page.

There is no deadline to register for the Miss Vicksburg or Miss Key to the South competitions, Harris said. However, all contestants are required to wear the Rebel X Miss America Collab Red Collection fitness outfit.

This fitness gear, Harris said, is available at rebelathletic.com/collections/curated-styles-for-miss-america-organization, and she said orders have been taking up to two weeks for delivery, which is why she is urging those interested in competing to not delay.

Harris said if anyone interested in competing needs more information, call 601-618-0070.

“They can always call me if they have any questions,” she said.

Miss Mississippi Teen Competition

In years past, preliminary competitions for Miss Mississippi Teen have coincided with the preliminary competitions for the Miss Mississippi competition, but this year, there will be no teen preliminary competitions.

Vice-chairman and executive director of the Miss Mississippi Teen competition Winky Freeman said young ladies vying for the title are eligible by just signing up.

“We are doing all at-large contestants,” Freeman said, adding, this has been done in past years.

“We cleared it with Miss America to go with all at-large contestants for the teen pageant and I think we have 15 or 16 signed up so far,” Freeman said.

For those interested in competing in the Miss Mississippi Teen Competition, visit www.miss-mississippi.com/how-to-compete-teen.html.

Miss America

The 2024 Miss America Competition and Miss America’s Teen Competition, where Miss Mississippi Vivian O’Neal and Miss Mississippi’s Teen Nataleigh Nix will compete for their respective national titles, will be held in conjunction this year.

Both competitions will be held Jan. 6 through 14 at the Walt Disney Theatre in Orlando, Fla.

The final Miss America’s Teen Competition will be held on Jan. 13, and the final Miss America Competition will be held on Jan. 14.