The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce is currently accepting resume-based applications for the 2016 Lincoln County Miss Hospitality Pageant until March 17.

The winner will be a youth goodwill ambassador for Brookhaven and will go on to compete for the state title in the Miss Hospitality Pageant in Hattiesburg on July 22 and 23. Eligible contestants are young women between 18 and 24 years old during the time of the state competition, where they will showcase the love and knowledge of their hometown.

Lincoln County Miss Hospitality contestants will be judged on a personal, biographical application describing honors and academics. The title is an honor and responsibility, as the local representative is an ambassador for tourism and industry through appearances, speaking engagements and hospitality events.

Lincoln County Miss Hospitality is scheduled to be notified March 25 and the crowning will be on March 26 at 2 p.m.  Outgoing Chamber of Commerce Programs Director Kay Burton said with the tiara comes training for the state title.

Burton said the competition is an opportunity for young women to gain valuable experience.

“This is a great way to increase those interpersonal skills and grow personally,” she said. “The competition is an excellent networking opportunity for many to meet other goal-oriented, outstanding young women and, potentially, create bonds that go beyond Miss Hospitality.”

Lincoln County Miss Hospitality contestants have done well at the state level in the past with seven girls placing in top 10, two placing in the top five, and a state winner since Burton started coordinating the local pageant in 2000.

In order to participate in Lincoln County Miss Hospitality, one:

• must be a resident of Mississippi.

• must represent her hometown and/or county, not the city where she attends college.

• must be a high school graduate before state pageant, and not ever married or have children and must be at least 18 and not older than 24 on July 17.

• must not currently hold a title that would interfere with her duties as Miss Hospitality.

• must have at least a 2.5 scholastic average (on a 4.0 system) for the last completed semester.

• must be in good health.

• must be able to compete in the state program July 17 through 23 if chosen as the local representative.

In addition to being Mississippi’s friendly face shining from official photographs in welcome centers state-wide, the Miss Hospitality Pageant offers more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes.

To receive an application and full entry requirements, go by the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce at 230 S. Whitworth Ave., or contact Burton by emailing kay@brookhavenchamber.com or calling 601-833-1411.

Evaluation Process:

• present a 15 second commercial on your community.

• 10-minute private panel interview on personality.

• If there are less than five participants, all applications will be prejudged by an independent panel and the winner will be contacted March 25 and crowned at 2 p.m. on March 26.