Miss Arkansas preliminary pageant to be held at Benton High School

For the first time since 1996, a Miss Arkansas preliminary competition will be held at Benton High School's Butler Auditorium.

The Miss Greater Little Rock/miss Metro dual preliminary competition will be held on Aug. 7, and candidates are currently being accepted. In a dual preliminary, candidates compete in one competition with two Miss winners and two teen winners selected to advance to the state competition.

Miss candidates will compete in evening wear, talent, personal interview and onstage question/social impact statement. Teen candidates will compete in talent, evening wear/on-stage question, personal interview and fitness.

Through these phases, candidates will have the opportunity to advocate for their social impact initiatives and to demonstrate how they are uniquely qualified for the title. Those interested can find more information about phases of competition and requirements to compete at www.missarkansas. org and www.missarkansasot.org.

The organization stands for empowering young women to be the best they can be through their leadership, talent, communication skills, and intelligence.

The current Miss Greater Little Rock, Taryn Bewley has won over $16,000 in her time competing. "My time competing in the Miss America Organization has been extremely beneficial,"

Bewley said. "The Miss America Organization is the largest provider of scholarship dollars to women in the United States. I am a testament to their mission of funding young women's higher education. I am starting law school in the fall, and my entire first year's tuition will be paid for with the scholarships I earned this past summer at Miss Arkansas. The life skills I have gained through competing are also invaluable."

The last Miss Arkansas candidate crowned at Benton High School in 1996 was Miss Saline County Faith Lamb who currently serves on the Miss Greater Little Rock/miss Metro Board of Directors. Lamb had this to say about her many years of involvement, “Winning Miss

Saline County in 1996 and representing my county at the Miss Arkansas pageant was a dream come true," Lamb said. "I received scholarships and gained a lot of confidence in myself. When time came for the next preliminary, we didn't have a competition and that was unfortunate for other young women wanting to compete. I'm beyond excited to be back at Benton High School where I won my title and to be a part of the Miss Greater Little Rock/miss Metro Scholarship Organization. There is nothing to lose from competing, only ways to gain and grow as a person.”

To learn more email Glrmetro@gmail.com or find the preliminary on Instagram @Missglrmetro.