The time is drawing near for the 10th annual Ms. Senior Chilton County Pageant, which will be held Feb. 25 at Thorsby High School at 6 p.m.

The application deadline is Friday, Jan. 28 at 5 p.m. Women ages 60 or older who have lived in Chilton County for at least three months are eligible to participate.

As of Wednesday, eight women have registered to be contestants in the pageant, which is more than double the amount of participants last year, said Pageant Director Wes Gandy.

“It is going to be a big year,” said Gandy. “Last year, we had 3 contestants, but this year we have contestants singing, a clown act, monologues, a magic act, pianist and a comedy act just to name a few. Anyone that attends will definitely be entertained.”

Mistress of Ceremonies will be Keeley Patterson, a Thorsby native and newly crowned Miss Mississippi USA. Patterson will be on national television competing for the Miss USA title in the spring.

Also, the 2008 and 2009 Ms. Senior Alabama winners will be in attendance, as well as the 2010 Mrs. Alabama and Teen Miss Alabama United States.

“We are always willing to take sponsors,” said Gandy. “This year, it is $150, and that includes a spot in the program book, the company’s name announced at the pageant and a link to the company’s website on the pageant’s website for a year at msseniorchiltoncounty.com.”

A workshop for the pageant will be held Feb. 2, where all of the contestants will meet for a program informational at the Thorsby Annex. Then, the contestants will take their photos for the program book and make sure everything is in order.

Ms. Senior Chilton County is a preliminary to the Ms. Senior Alabama Pageant.

Carolyn Vance was crowned the 2010 Ms. Senior Chilton County and went on to compete at the state level.

“With the quality of contestants we have so far, there is no doubt in my mind that whoever wins will give the contestants at the state level a run for their money,” said Gandy.

Applications are available on the website or by calling Gandy at 205-299-2808.

Admission to the pageant will be $4 for adults and $2 for children under 10 years of age.