Three 'young miss' pageants join State Fair lineup

The Du Quoin State Fair is adding three "young miss" pageants to this year's events, and organizers hope plenty of girls in the area will want to take part.

Special Event Coordinator Tawmi Conley and her team are recruiting contestants for a Little Miss Contest, ages 4-6; a Junior Miss pageant, ages 7-10 and a Preteen Pageant, ages 11-14.

The contestants will have a dress rehearsal on Sunday, Aug. 22 and the contest itself will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24.

The winners, Conley said, will be invited to ride in the Twilight Parade on Friday, Aug. 27; and while wearing their crowns and sashes, will give out awards to the winners of other special events at this fair.

The deadline to sign up is Aug. 17, and the form is on the website at https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/dsf/Pages/default.aspx.

The sponsors of the pageants are Fenton's Custom & Collision in Du Quoin; Glittery Creations in Du Quoin and the Flower Patch in Pinckneyville.

Conley, who is in her first year as coordinating special events for the fair, said she'd like to add a "Miss Du Quoin State Fair" to the pageant lineup as well, but first she's going to gauge the reception the young miss pageants get.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Miss Du Quoin, Trinity Wright, will be invited to participate in many fair events, she added.