With experience comes seniority, and a few of the girls competing for the 2009 Miss Mississippi crown have earned that distinction.

Three contestants are returning for their fourth shot — Miss Deep South Rachael Shannon of Byram, Miss New South Anna Tadlock of Brandon and Miss Dixie Corie Stanford of Saltillo.

If you go

Preliminaries begin tonight at 8 at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Competition will continue at 8 Thursday and Friday. Final night of competition is at 8  Saturday. Tickets are $100 for all four nights. Single-night tickets are $25 for tonight and Thursday, $30 for Friday and $50 for Saturday. For more information, call 601-638-6746

Shannon and Tadlock say they are more relaxed this go-around and cite preparation as the key.

Unlike the 30 of this year’s 47 contestants who are first-timers, the veterans will use their experience from years past and plan to rekindle friendships.

“I’ve worked very hard, and this is my final year to do it,” said Shannon, who graduated in 2008 from the University of Mississippi with a degree in interior design. “I’m looking forward to the show and every phase of competition.” Her favorite part of competition is the talent portion, she said, in which she will sing “Don’t Cry Out loud” by Melissa Manchester.

Contestants must be at least 17 and “age-out” at 24.

Shannon is 23.

She competed as Miss Deep South 2005; Miss Hattiesburg 2006, when she was named fourth alternate; and Miss Byram/Tri-County 2007. She did not compete in 2008, after college graduation, so she could pursue other ambitions.

“This year is more relaxing,” Shannon said. “I want to enjoy myself every second.”

Her platform this year is the Make-A-Wish Foundation, for which she has been a volunteer for the past five years.

Tadlock is also looking forward to the talent part of the competition, during which she will sing “A New Life.”

Tadlock, 23, graduated from Mississippi State University in 2008 with a degree in communications and public relations. She became the director of recruiting for a financial firm.

For four straight years, Tadlock said she has prepared for every event in every way possible. But this year, she said, she is more focused.

“I’m looking forward to putting on the show,” she said.

Tadlock competed as Miss Houston/North Central in 2008, Miss New South in 2007 and Miss Northridge in 2006.

For her platform, she is advocating music as a positive influence on children’s education. She has served as a music teacher during Bible school at her church.

Stanford, 22, competed as Miss Itawamba Community Colege in 2006, Miss Tupelo in 2007 and Miss Mississippi State University in 2008. She will sing in the talent part of the competition, and her platform is volunteerism. She graduated this year from Mississippi State University with a degree in communications and public relations.

Her volunteer efforts include Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center, March of Dimes, The Salvation Army and Relay for Life.

Preliminaries begin this evening at 8 and continue through Friday night. The winner will be crowned in an 8 p.m. live broadcast Saturday on WLBT, local cable Channel 3.

Contestants returning for a third chance at the crown are:

• Miss Hattiesburg Mary Brandon Norman

• Miss Heartland Danielle Smith

• Miss Magnolia Melissa King

• Miss Metro Jackson Katherine Barkett

• Miss Riverland Diana Strickland

• Miss Southern Magnolia Kristen Benigno

• Miss University Brooke Beard

For a second chance:

• Miss Clinton Tiffany Boyte

• Miss Dixieland Marie Elizabeth Wicks

• Miss Leaf River Valley Jessica Cofield

• Miss Madison County Kelly Langford

• Miss Mississippi State University Sarah Beth James

• Miss Riverbend De’Lisha Wiggins

• Miss Southland Crystal Flores.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchan@vicksburgpost.com