By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

CALERA— After an interview in Birmingham, Calera Intermediate student Mya Crowson, 10, was selected to compete in the 2015 Miss Pre-Teen Pageant Competition on Sept. 27 at the Bessemer Civic Center.

This will be Crowson’s first pageant of this scale, although she has previously participated in her school’s third and fourth grade pageants. Calera Intermediate holds a pageant every year, according to Crowson’s mother Dana Hardin. Hardin said it got into her blood after her first competition, and her favorite part about competing?

“The dressing up, the makeup and the hair,” Hardin said. “And she likes walking across that stage too.”

At the competition Sept. 27, Crowson will be competing in the Miss Pre-Teen division, one of four divisions featuring 7- to 19-year-olds. Personal interviews with the judges are the first part of the competition, and, according to the pageant’s website, it’s the most important part.

In this phase, each contestant spends about three to five minutes with each judge, and has the opportunity to share her personality. The ladies can also represent their personal style in the casual wear portion of the competition.

The third part of competition is the formal wear and each contestant will present herself in an evening gown of her choosing. They will complete a modeling routine they learned previously at rehearsal and training classes.

“I’m hoping she wins because if she gets to go to the nationals that’s where she can win scholarships,” Hardin said. “She’s really wanting to get into this.”

If Crowson is crowned Miss Pre-Teen, she would travel to Orlando to represent Birmingham and compete for more than $30,000 in prizes and awards.

Crowson will also compete in a Miss Photogenic competition as an extra category at the pageant. Hardin said this will focus on modeling skills and taking photos.

Pageant contestants are already preparing for the competition. Hardin said they picked out Crowson’s dress and she’ll be practicing pageant skills in Birmingham.