BENTON HARBOR — The Blossomtime Festival is proud to announce the newest addition to its pageant roster, the Miss Southwest Michigan Scholarship Pageant and  Miss Southwest Michigan Scholarship Outstanding Teen

“When the Miss Michigan organization came to Blossomtime and asked Blossomtime to run an open pageant preliminary for them for this area we were thrilled and honored to be a part of such a longstanding organization,” stated board President Anna Abdelnour.

“Miss Southwest Michigan will be open to all young women in Michigan and will follow the Miss America guidelines and will not affect Miss Blossomtime and our local community queens.” Abdelnour stated.

Miss Southwest Michigan Scholarship Pageant will also be conducting a Miss Southwest Michigan Outstanding Teen for ages 13-17.

For more information please contact the Blossomtime office.

The Blossomtime Festival has been in the pageant business since 1923 when Katherine Burrell was chosen the first Miss Blossomtime.

The Blossomtime Festival is Michigan’s oldest and largest multi-community festival.

Please contact the Blossomtime office for more information on becoming Miss Southwest Michigan.

The Blossomtime Festival is now accepting applications for the New Miss Southwest Michigan Scholarship Pageant which is scheduled for Sept. 11 at the Dowagiac Performing Arts Center.

The deadline to return a completed application is Aug. 15.

The Miss Southwest Michigan Scholarship Pageant is a preliminary to the Miss Michigan Scholarship Pageant, which will be held in Muskegon in June 2011.

In turn, Miss Michigan is the official state preliminary to the Miss America program.

Women interested in entering the scholarship program must be:

• A U.S. citizen.

• At least 17 years old and entering your senior year of high school.

• Single, never been married.

• Live, work full time or attend school full time in Michigan.

• Be a high school graduate by the time you compete for Miss Michigan.

• Be no older than 24 on date of the Miss America pageant.

• Meet character criteria as set forth by the Miss America organization.

• Be able to meet the time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the local program in which you compete.

• Be able to meet time commitment and responsibilities as set forth by the Miss Michigan program.