For nearly 50 years, the sweltering, summer heat in Vicksburg has meant one thing – it’s time for the Miss Mississippi Pageant again.

That said, 42 women arrive in Vicksburg today, all hoping for the 2005 title.

The theme for this year’s pageant, the 47th in Vicksburg, is “Everybody’s Talkin’.” The contestants, ages 18-24, will participate in three preliminary competitions starting Wednesday night.

The week kicks off Monday evening with a parade and autograph party. After, the contestants will join the July 4th festivities downtown. The rest of the week, the young women will sign autographs at other locations in Vicksburg.

Saturday night is the grand finale, with the crowning of a new Miss Mississippi. But, this year, the official pageant season in Vicksburg will last an extra week.

On July 11, 26 teens from around the state will arrive in the River City for the first Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, sponsored by the Miss America Organization.

The contestants, ages 13-17, will compete for the state title here in Vicksburg. The winner will travel to Orlando for the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen Pageant, Aug. 17-20.

The pageant encourages scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement in teens. It also prepares them for, possibly, competing in the Miss America program.

David Blackledge, executive director of the Miss Mississippi Corporation, said this will be the only year the two pageants in Vicksburg will be held back-to-back. Scheduling the Miss Mississippi event the week before, he said, gives the younger contestants exposure to the pageant scene and prepares them for their own competition.

“We’re excited about the interest in participation this year, but we’re hoping for even more interest next year,” he said.

Blackledge said the contestants are outstanding, and the teen pageant looks to join the deep-rooted pageant culture in Mississippi.

“I think it will definitely become as big as Miss Mississippi, if not eventually bigger,” he said.

The preliminaries for Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen are July 14-15.

The final night of competition and the crowning is July 16 at the Vicksburg Convention Center.