Smile! It's pageant time + photo gallery

By NATASHA DERRICK - nderrick@thestate.com

Today Spartanburg will once again be filled with more than 90 smiling pageant contestants from across the state.

The 51 Miss S.C. and 41 Miss S.C. Teen hopefuls will begin competition at 2 p.m. at the Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium.

This year 13 Midlands women and girls will participate in the swimwear, evening gown, talent, on-stage question and interview phases through Thursday. The final round will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday for the Miss S.C. Teen and 8 p.m. for Miss S.C.

Generally the top 10 women with the highest cumulative scores advance to the final round but this year there is a little twist.

One of the requirements for participation was to set a goal to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. The woman who raises the most money will automatically be placed as the 11th top finalist in the Miss S.C. competition.

“I think it's a reward for those who really got out and went above the fund-raising limit without knowing that it might benefit them,” said Miss S.C.’s Margie Watkins.

Also new this year is the Palmetto Princes program, which allows boys ages 5-12 to participate in the pageant. Each contestant is allowed to have one prince, either of their choice or one assigned by the pageant.

“In the past so many little brothers of the contestants were just walking around the hotel with nothing to do so we thought we'd give them something to do,” Watkins said.

The princes are taking special classes on self-esteem, etiquette and patriotism. They will escort their contestant in the evening gown competition and accompany them on their appearances around Spartanburg this week. The prince program works in conjunction with the Palmetto Princesses, which allows girls ages 5-16 to be in the pageant.

The new Miss S.C. will receive a $20,000 scholarship and other gifts including jewelry and shopping sprees. The cost for her trip and wardrobe at the Miss America pageant also will be covered.

Miss America Kirsten Hagland and Miss America's Outstanding Teen Caitlin Brunnell will also make appearances throughout the week.

The contestants are:

Aiming to be Miss South Carolina

Midlands contestants vying for the title of Miss South Carolina: Ebony Muller, Irmo: Miss Charleston Southern University Morgan Smoak, Cayce: Miss Coastal Carolina Jessica St. Julienne Richards, Columbia: Miss Greater Irmo Kayleigh Kersey, Camden: Miss Lancaster Lyndsey Hite, Pelion: Miss Little Mountain Sarah Clough, Columbia: Miss Northern Danielle Alyce Wilson, Columbia: Miss Whitmire Ashley Phipps, Batesburg-Leesville: Miss Saluda County Megan Barrett Mitchell, Saluda, Miss Newberry County

Midlands contestants vying for the title of Miss South Carolina Teen: Janie Leigh Davis (Irmo): Miss Greater Irmo Teen Rachel Driggers, Lexington: Miss Lake Murray Teen Sallie Pierce, Camden: Miss Lancaster Teen Rachel Aube, Chapin: Miss Newberry County Teen

Miss Charleston Southern University Ebony Muller (Irmo) Miss Coastal Carolina Morgan Smoak (Cayce) Miss Greater Irmo Jessica St. Julienne Richards (Columbia) Miss Lancaster Kayleigh Kersey (Camden) Miss Little Mountain Lyndsey Hite (Pelion) Miss Northern Sarah Clough (Columbia) Miss Whitmire Danielle Alyce Wilson (Columbia) Miss Saluda County Ashley Phipps (Batesburg-Leesville)

Miss S.C. Teen contestants Miss Greater Irmo Teen Janie Leigh Davis (Irmo) Miss Lake Murray Teen Rachel Driggers (Lexington) Miss Lancaster Teen Sallie Pierce (Camden) Miss Newberry County Teen Rachel Aube (Chapin)

Reach Derrick at (803) 771-8640.