Miss Georgia Pageant returns

• Two Albany residents head to Columbus to compete for the crown.

Cathy Higgins

COLUMBUS — It’s time, once again, for the pageantry of the 2008 Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen competitions.

The 64th annual event starts at 7:30 p.m. today at the Bill Heard Theater in the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts in Columbus.

Subsequent installments of the pageant continue at 7:30 p.m. each day until the finale, which will feature the crowning of the new Miss Georgia and Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Tickets, which are $15-$75 per individual event, can be obtained by visiting www.tickets.com.

This week’s competition will pit 2008 Miss Albany Kellen Cooper against 37 women ages 17-24 for the Miss Georgia crown. Contestants will compete in casual wear, evening wear, an on-stage question, swimsuit and talent.

In addition to the crown and title, the new Miss Georgia will win a $15,000 scholarship, jewelry and a wardrobe for the Miss America competition in which she will compete at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas, Nev., next January.

Also competing this week is 2008 Miss Albany’s Outstanding Teen Carly Mathis against fellow Peach State teens for the title of Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen 2008. She and her fellow contestants will take part in sports wear, talent and evening wear contests.

The winner will go on to compete for the title of Miss America’s Outstanding Teen in Orlando, Fla., in two months.

For more information, visit www.MissGa.org.

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