This Saturday Vicksburg will have new royalty.

The coronation will come in the form of a pageant, the Miss Vicksburg Pageant, which is being brought back under the watch of local pageant director Tammy Wells.

Wells, who has 17 years of experience with pageants, said the event will take place at Vicksburg High School and can best be described as pageant-palooza.

“We’re going to crown six Miss contestants, and we hope to crown six teen contestants,” she said. “I need more teen contestants this year.”

Wells said the Miss America Organization will only allow four crowns to be handed down in a local pageant, so she has planned to host two pageants.

“We’re going to crown Miss Vicksburg, Miss Red Carpet City and Miss Belle of the Bayou at 4 p.m., and the sister teen pageants with that,” she said. “We’re going to take a break, then at 7 p.m. we’re going to crown Miss Delta Blues, Miss Pride of the South, and Miss North Central Mississippi.”

Wells said there are many benefits to competing in pageants, most notably the amount of scholarship dollars up for grabs.

“Miss Mississippi Hannah Camille Roberts is a perfect example of what a role model and what hard work will do at Miss America,” she said. “She was first runner up at Miss America.”

Wells added Miss America’s Outstanding Teen is also a great program that builds character and integrity while giving girls poise and confidence.

“I think one of the greatest parts of these programs is the doors that they open,” she said. “You meet people that help further your career; the sky is the limit. The friendships that you make are lifelong.”

Wells said the Miss America Organization wants local pageants to give precedence to local girls first.

“Everone qualifies for five crowns, but only the girls from Vicksburg qualify for the Miss Vicksburg title,” she said. “We have enough girls, and we will name a Miss Vicksburg from the Vicksburg area this Saturday.”

Wells said there is no deadline to sign up, but she would love to have entries in by Thursday.

Visit missmississippipageant.com and click info for more information on how to sign up. Send forms to Wells at naborsdesigner@yahoo.com. For more information, call Wells at 662-542-2862 or 662-260-0711.