The sixth annual Central Alabama Fair pageants are just around the corner, and the addition of additional pageant categories means more girls can participate.

This year, pageant categories will include Tine Miss (ages 3 and 4), Little Miss (ages 5 and 6), Petite Miss (ages 7 to 9), Young Miss (ages 10 to 12), Junior Miss (ages 13-16) and Miss Central (ages 17-21). The pageants for Petite Miss and Young Miss are new to this year’s fair.

“We had the Tiny Miss and the Little Miss for years, and then we didn’t have anything for the children in between,” said Melissa Vardaman, co-director for the Central Alabama Pageants. “We found that there was a lot of interest in that age group.”

Organizers are accepting applications for contestants until Aug. 31. The pageants will be held the week of the Central Alabama Fair, which is held Sept. 29 through Oct. 4.

The Petite Miss Pageant will be held Sept. 20 at 6 p.m., followed by the Miss Central Pageant at 7:30 p.m.

The Young Miss Pageant will be held Sept. 30 at 6 p.m., followed by the Junior Miss Pageant at 7:30 p.m.

The Tiny Miss Pageant will be held Oct. 4 at 2 p.m., followed by the Little Miss Pageant at 4 p.m.

Depending on the pageant, contestants will be judge on their poise, personality and more.

There will be no interviews, aside from the top ten in certain pageants having an on-stage question.

“I think the pageants just does something for the girl’s self esteem,” Vardaman said. “I think it helps with their image.”

Every category will have a most photogenic category. Competitors may send in pictures at $5 a picture, which will be judged by a professional photographer.

The Tiny and Little winners will get a year’s free dance tuition to the Rachel Colley’s Dance Studio and all contestants in those categories will get flowers, crowns and bag prizes. .

Applications can be found at the Selma Doctors Clinic, located on 509 Parkman Ave. in Selma.

For more information or applications, visit the Central Alabama Fair’s Facebook page or contact Vardaman at 412-1965.