Light response has forced Miss Vicksburg officials to extend the entry deadline for the pageant scheduled for next weekend.

Young women now have until a week from today to enter. The pageant is slated for 7 p.m. Feb. 28 at Vicksburg Auditorium.

On the same night as Miss Vicksburg are Miss River Bend, Miss Vicksburg Teen and Miss River Bend Teen. Winners from Miss Vicksburg and Miss River Bend advance to the Miss Mississippi contest in July.

The state winner will get a shot at the 2010 Miss America title. Winners of the teen pageants head to the Miss Mississippi Outstanding Teen Pageant, which is also run by the Miss Mississippi Corporation.

The winners of the Vicksburg and River Bend contests will each receive $500 scholarships.

Rules require three contestants for a pageant. So far, two have entered the Miss Vicksburg contest, and one has entered Miss Vicksburg Teen. None has entered the others.

Amanda Monsour, director of the Miss Vicksburg and River Bend pageants, said she has had several contestants promise to submit applications.

“I’m optimistic. I feel like I’ll get an influx of applications over the weekend,” Monsour said.

One cause of low application numbers, she said, is local pageants around the state have not ended. Miss River Bend, new this year, is open to young women across the state who placed in the top five on other local pageants, but did not win.

Miss Vicksburg officials are trying to bounce back after not having a pageant last year for the first time in 50 years after the long-time director retired.

Miss Vicksburg is open to women 17 to 24 who reside in Warren, Claiborne, Issaquena or Sharkey counties.

Contestants will compete in four segments — talent, swimsuit, evening wear and question-and-answer. They will have a personal interview with judges the morning of the competition.

Entertainment will be provided by students of Debra Franco’s Preparatory School of Dance.

For entry information, contact Monsour at 601-631-0271.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or in advance at the UPS store on Pemberton Square Boulevard.

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Contact Manivanh Chanprasith at mchanprasith@vicksburgpost.com.