ECB Publishing, Inc.
Applications are now available for the inaugural Miss Jefferson County Pageant, and excitement is already building for the debut event in 2026.
The Miss Jefferson County Pageants will be held on Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Kilpatrick Civic Auditorium in Monticello. Contestants from birth through age 24 and older will have the opportunity to compete for crowns, titles, and special awards.
The Baby Miss to Tiny Miss Jefferson County Pageant will begin at 10 a.m. Age divisions include:
- Baby Miss and Baby Mister: Birth to 11 months (separate divisions for boys and girls)
- Infant Miss and Infant Mister: 12-23 months (separate divisions for boys and girls)
- Tiny Miss and Tiny Mister: 2-3 years (separate divisions for boys and girls)
Contestants will take the stage in their best attire and compete within their respective age divisions. Queens, kings and their courts will be crowned in each division. Optional awards will be presented for Photogenic, Best Attire, Prettiest Hair, Prettiest Smile, Best Stage Presence and Outfit of Choice. The Outfit of Choice competition allows contestants to showcase their personality and style by modeling an outfit of their choosing on stage.
The next session of competition will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will feature the following divisions:
- Tiny Miss: Ages 4-6
- Little Miss: Ages 7-9
- Junior Miss: Ages 10-12
Contestants in these divisions will participate in a formal wear competition and may also enter optional categories including Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Hair, Best Attire, Best Stage Presence and Outfit of Choice.
The Teen Miss and Miss Jefferson County Pageants will begin at 6:00 p.m.
The Teen Miss Jefferson County division is open to young ladies ages 13-15. Contestants will compete in sportswear and evening gown competitions.
The Miss Jefferson County division is open to young ladies ages 16-24. Contestants will be judged on a private interview, casual wear competition, and evening gown competition.
Teen and Miss contestants may also participate in optional categories including Photogenic, Prettiest Smile, Prettiest Hair, Best Attire, Best Stage Presence and Talent. The Talent competition provides contestants the opportunity to display their unique abilities before the judges and audience.
Every contestant will receive a trophy, while queens in each division will receive a crown, trophy and sash. In addition, Miss Jefferson County contestants will have the opportunity to compete for a scholarship. The young lady crowned Miss Jefferson County 2026 will receive a $1,000 scholarship.
The deadline to enter the pageant is Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Applications may be picked up at the Monticello News office, located at 180 W. Washington St. in Monticello, or an application may be emailed upon request.
The Miss Jefferson County Pageant is sponsored by the Monticello News and is co-directed by Emerald Greene and Cheltsie Holbrook.
For more information, contact Emerald Greene at 850-464-0865 or email bookkeeper@ecbpublishing.com to request an application.
Those interested may also visit the Miss Jefferson County Pageant Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MissJeffersonCountyPageant.
Please note: Contestants who currently hold a Miss or Mister Queen/King 2026 title in the Watermelon Pageant system are not eligible to enter and compete in the Miss Jefferson County Pageant.