PHOTOT SUBMITTED / 2014 Miss Mississippi High School America Alexis Carter will compete this week at the national competition. Registration has begun for the 2015 Miss Mississippi Junior High, High School and Collegiate pageants and the orientation parade that will be held on July 19.

Armed with high heels and camera-ready, young women of all ages will be hitting the downtown Brookhaven streets in a parade on July 19.

The Miss Mississippi Collegiate America, High School America and Junior High American pageants begin their 2015 competition year in Brookhaven. Although the state competition is held in Hattiesburg in September, Susan May, the director of the pageant, said its home is in Brookhaven.

The orientation parade will also welcome several local organizations into the mix, including the Lawrence County Fire Brigade, Miss Mississippi Teen USA, Girl Scout Troop No. 0172, the American Cancer Society and the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League.

Like Miss America and Miss USA, this pageant sequence also offers scholarship prizes and consists of an interview panel and evening gown competitions. However, it differs in that it has a fashion runway portion of the competition. May compared it to Victoria Secret’s Fashion Show but in high fashion outfits.

“It expresses a part of their personality,” she said.

In addition to the junior high, high school and collegiate divisions, the competition also includes a Young Miss category for 4 to 6 year olds.

“I think these older girls need to mentor,” May said.

The competition helps instill confidence in the contestants according to May.

“It makes girls comfortable in their own skin,” she said. “It’s a competition just like tennis and softball.”

The 2014 winners will be traveling this week to the national pageant in Orlando.

The 2015 pageant will be held at the Saenger Theater in Hattiesburg Sept. 26 through 28.

To sign up for the parade or competition, contact 601-833-9333 or mspageant@hotmail.com.