She’ll be coming to a Christmas parade – and a few parties andsome open houses – near you.

Brookhaven’s Emilee Weeks, an 18-year-old student atCopiah-Lincoln Community College, was named the community’s MissMerry Christmas for 2010, an honor that will see her smiling bigand looking pretty in her crown and seasonal long, red robe atseveral local events. The young repeat challenger was chosen overtwo other girls Monday evening for the right to represent theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce for a few short, highprofile weeks.

“I feel wonderful. It was really a fun experience,” said Weeks,who was all smiles as she tried on the big Christmas shawl.

Weeks was one of four contestants in last year’s competitionwhen Bethany Crawford earned the crown. This year, she was chosenfrom a field of three that included 17-year-old Brittany Twiner, astudent at Southwest Mississippi Community College; and Holly Byrd,an 18-year-old student at Brookhaven Academy.

“Last year I was super-nervous,” Weeks said. “Who wouldn’t be inan interview? But I really wanted to work on my interview skills.I’m going to need them later.”

As the Christmas season in Brookhaven gets under way, Weeks willhave a few duties to correspond with Miss Merry Christmas’responsibility to put a face on Brookhaven. She’ll ride up frontand center in next month’s Christmas parade, and she’ll appear atany of the Christmas open houses the city’s retail community hostsfor the holidays. She’ll also be available to be booked as afeatured guest at high society’s Christmas parties.

But when the sun rises on 2011, Weeks’ duties will end.

“It’s a very short reign,” said Rita Rich, chairman of the MissMerry Christmas program. “It goes from the very first open house toJan. 1.”

While Miss Merry Christmas may be a fleeting title, it’s stillimportant as an opportunity for young women, Rich said.

“Some girls are Miss Brookhaven High School, Miss ‘whatever.’There’s not enough titles to go around for girls to be recognized,”she said. “This competition is based on leadership, and it givesgirls a chance to stand out.”

Chamber program director Kay Burton said the Miss MerryChristmas program is also a way the chamber invests in thecommunity.

“It gives the chamber an opportunity to expose young people towhat we do,” she said. “Hopefully, in the years down the road,they’ll turn around and serve their chamber.”