Pageant veterans took top honors in the second night of preliminary competition at the 53rd annual Miss Mississippi Pageant in Vicksburg.

Miss Mid South Danielle Smith, 24, of Meridian, won the talent preliminary for her group and Miss Mississippi State University Fenly Akers, 20, of Vicksburg, won the swimwear preliminary for her group.

“Pinch me, I can’t believe this,” Smith said after her win. “I said this was going to be my Broadway performance.”

She performed a theatrical and acrobatic dance to “Simba Confronts Scar” from the Broadway production “The Lion King.”

A fourth-year contestant, she competed as Miss Heartland in 2009, Miss Meridian in 2008 and Miss Mississippi State University in 2007 — each year placing in the top five.

Her talent win is her first ever in the category, but her second this year. On Wednesday night, she tied with Miss Meridian Mary Margaret Roark, 19, of Cleveland, for the swimwear preliminary for their group.

With two preliminary wins under her belt, Smith said she is confident, but is not celebrating yet.

“I’m very blessed and honored, but I have to start getting ready for the next competition,” she said.

She was awarded a $300 cash scholarship for the talent win.

Akers is a second-year contestant who competed as Miss Mid South in 2009.

“I was surprised and so thankful,” Akers said. “It’s all the hard work I did at the gym. I like to work out outside and be outdoors.”

She said her talent, dancing ballet en pointe, helps her stay fit. This is her first preliminary win. She received a $200 cash scholarship.

Contestants’ preliminary scores in talent, swimwear, evening wear and questions, including on-stage and off-stage interviews, will combine to make a composite score, which will determine the top 10 finalists who will be announced at the beginning of the finals on Saturday night.

The top 10 will compete in every category except for private interview.

The composite score is 30 percent of the overall score, talent is 30 percent, evening wear is 20 percent and swimwear is 20 percent.

Mistresses of ceremony for the program, themed Two Kings and a Queen, were Miss America 1981 Susan Powell and Miss Mississippi 2006 Taryn Foshee, who took audiences behind-the-scenes and backstage for a glimpse into production at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

During Thursday night’s program, a special honor was presented to recognize the late John Wayne Jabour, who died early this year after serving 52 years with the Miss Mississippi Corporation.

“We valued his support, his leadership and wisdom,” said Dr. Briggs Hopson, chairman emeritus of the corporation, as he presented a plaque to Jabour’s wife, Becky.

Preliminary competition will continue tonight and culminate with the crowning on Saturday night.

Saturday’s final show will be televised live at 8 p.m. on WLBT local Channel 3. A live simulcast can be viewed each night at www.missmississippipageant.com. Tickets for each night remain available at the pageant office by calling 601-638-6746 or by visiting the pageant website.

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If you go

Preliminary competition will end tonight at the Vicksburg Convention Center and crowning of the new Miss Mississippi will close Saturday night’s event televised starting at 8 on WLBT Channel 3. A live webcast can be viewed each night on www.missmississippipageant.com. Tickets are $30 for tonight and $50 for Saturday night. For more information, call 601-638-6746 or visit the website.