Monticello native Kendra King will represent the state tonightas women competing for the Miss USA title take the stage during atelevised broadcast of the competition in Baltimore.

King, 19, a 2004 graduate of Lawrence County High School, wascrowned to represent the state as Miss Mississippi USA in November.The pageant can be seen tonight at 8 o’clock on NBC.

King left for Baltimore approximately three weeks ago to beginpreparing for tonight’s pageant.

“She tired. It’s been a long process. They practice from earlyin the morning to late at night,” said Donna King, her mother,during a telephone interview.

Donna King said she and the rest of the family have been inBaltimore for the past week, but have rarely had the opportunity tosee Kendra.

“We saw her on Easter and two or three minutes here and there,”Donna King said. “We don’t get to see Kendra much, so we’re justgoing out and sightseeing a little bit.”

In the past week, Donna King said, her daughter has appearedwith the rest of the contestants on several nationally televisedmorning shows and other TV programs as part of the pageantpreparations. They also attended a party hosted Donald Trump, andKendra King got to meet with and speak with The Donald.

Donna King said her daughter is confident of her chances to winthe pageant, but is also humbled by the experience and the peopleshe has met.

“She feels like she can’t lose either way – whether she gets thecrown or not,” Donna King said. “She’s made so many friends andit’s been such an experience for her.”

Kendra King’s rise to the top has been rapid. The prestigiousMiss USA pageant is only her seventh to compete in.

“She’s never really done pageant work until she startedmodeling,” Donna King said. “It gave her confidence and she startedcompeting and winning.”

Kendra King did not begin modeling until her senior year at thehigh school, when she was hired to work at Susan’s Shoppe, adesigner dress store in Brookhaven.

“We’re very proud of her. We see big things ahead for her,” saidSusan Nash, owner of the store.

It’s been a big year for Kendra King. She also became LawrenceCounty’s Miss Hospitality 2005 and has appeared nationally as amodel in catalogs for prom dresses.